Impact of SF6 Gas Emission on Global Warming & Methods of Reduction

In recent years, the environment has become a very important issue within society. Emissions of SF6 gas from switchgear contribute significantly to the threat of the greenhouse effect and associated climate change. SF6 gas is included in the Kyoto protocol for its contribution to the greenhouse effect .With the increase in the number of switchgear using SF6 gas for switching and insulation purposes in electricity networks, emissions of SF6 gas into the atmosphere will increase accordingly, a trend which will continue if policy remains unchanged. SF6 traps 23,900 times more heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Nevertheless, because its concentration is increasing at a rate of 8.7% /year and because its lifetime in the atmosphere is 3200 years, there is concern that its contribution to global warming could become significant in the future. Therefore, much research is now being conducted on finding a substitute gas for SF6.We must find equivalent alternatives & make them commercially available on the market. We must also reduce SF6 emission by leakage detection technologies like Infrared Thermography to reduce the impact on climate.