Flyer · EN — Siemens Energy flyer (2024) presenting the 8VN1 Blue GIS, a clean-air gas-insulated switchgear for voltages up to 145 kV with Zero CO2e emissions, including the full technical ratings table for the conventional 8VN1 and the 8VN1 with Low-Power Instrument Transformer (LPIT), and a lifecycle GWP comparison against SF6-insulated 8DN8 switchgear.
Renewables alone will not get the energy industry to net zero — the flyer argues that power transmission itself must reach Zero Global Warming Potential (GWP). That means removing climate-hostile fluorinated gases (F-gases), above all SF6, from electrical switchgear; recent EU legislation restricts these gases and permits only GWP < 1 solutions where available.
Siemens Energy's answer is the Blue portfolio: products designed around Zero greenhouse gases of any kind and Zero harmful environmental impact, with the 8VN1 Blue GIS as the high-voltage GIS member.
The 8VN1 combines clean-air insulation with vacuum switching technology for voltages up to 145 kV. Siemens Energy points to over 40 years of vacuum-switching experience, with high-voltage applications under development since 2012.
The insulating medium is simply cleaned, dehumidified air — 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen. Being non-toxic and inherently GWP-free, it can be vented to the atmosphere without harm to people or the environment.
No special training is required to transport, handle or operate the clean-air GIS; the interrupter unit is sealed for life and maintenance-free; and there are no gas-disposal costs at end of life.
Per the flyer, the 8VN1 keeps the technical performance and reliability standards of conventional GIS while offering low lifecycle costs. At up to 145 kV it delivers full interrupting performance at rated nominal current and rated short-circuit current without degradation.
Because the interrupter is hermetically sealed against anything that could cause decomposition, the switchgear is positioned for a long working life.
The flyer's sidebar groups the Zero claims into four categories.
Zero environmental impact: Zero SF6 and other F-gases, Zero greenhouse gas emissions, Zero GWP.
Zero impact on health & safety: Zero toxic insulation gases, Zero toxic decomposition products, Zero special safety measures needed during maintenance, Zero disposal of gases required at end of life.
Zero regulation: Zero regulations on gas handling or density checks, Zero reporting and accounting of gases required, Zero F-gas training needed, Zero issues with current and potential legislation against F-gases.
Zero compromise on performance and reliability: 40+ years of experience in medium-voltage vacuum switching technology, 10+ years in high-voltage applications up to 145 kV, a maintenance-free vacuum interrupter, suitability for low-temperature applications without liquefaction of the insulating medium, excellent operational safety and switching performance, and low operational costs across the lifecycle.
The optional Low-Power Instrument Transformer combines an electronic voltage and current transformer in one device serving both protection and measurement, and can be installed flexibly anywhere in the GIS.
Versus the conventional 8VN1 bay (3.2 m height, 5.5 m depth, 6.0 t per the technical data table), the 8VN1 with LPIT cuts bay length by 30% and weight by 22%, coming in at 3.1 m height, 3.7 m depth and 4.7 t.
Ratings as printed in the flyer for the conventional 8VN1 and the 8VN1 with LPIT.
| Parameter | conventional 8VN1 | 8VN1 with LPIT |
|---|---|---|
| Rated voltage | up to 145 kV | up to 145 kV |
| Rated frequency | 50/60 Hz | 50/60 Hz |
| Rated short-duration power-frequency withstand voltage (1 min) | up to 275 kV | up to 275 kV |
| Rated lightning impulse withstand voltage (1.2/50 µs) | up to 650 kV | up to 650 kV |
| Rated continuous current – bus bar / feeder / bus coupler | up to 3,150 A | up to 3,150 A |
| Rated short-circuit breaking current | up to 50 kA | up to 50 kA |
| Rated peak withstand current | up to 135 kA | up to 135 kA |
| Rated short-time withstand current (up to 3 s) | up to 50 kA | up to 50 kA |
| Leakage rate per year and gas compartment (type-tested) | < 0.1 % | < 0.1 % |
| Drive mechanism of circuit-breaker | stored energy spring | stored energy spring |
| Rated operating sequence | O-0.3 s-CO-3 min-CO / CO-15 s-CO | O-0.3 s-CO-3 min-CO / CO-15 s-CO |
| Interrupter technology | vacuum | vacuum |
| Insulation medium | clean air | clean air |
| Weight of SF6 or other fluorinated green-house gases | 0 kg | 0 kg |
| Rated filling pressure | 0.8 MPa (abs.) | 0.8 MPa (abs.) |
| Bay width common pole drive | 1000 mm | 1,000 mm |
| Bay height / depth (depending on bay arrangement) | 3,200 / 5,500 mm | 3,100 / 3,700 mm |
| Bay weight (depending on bay arrangement) | 6.0 t | 4.7 t |
| Ambient temperature range | -50°C up to +55°C | -30°C up to +55°C |
| Installation | indoor/outdoor | indoor/outdoor |
| First major inspection | > 25 years | > 25 years |
| Expected lifetime | > 50 years | > 50 years |
| Standards | IEC / IEEE | IEC / IEEE |
The flyer defines global warming as the rise in global temperature driven by greenhouse-gas emissions and credits the 8VN1 with a significant GWP reduction by substituting SF6. Its whole-lifecycle chart compares an 8DN8 145 kV with SF6 insulation against an 8VN1 Blue GIS (145 kV) with LPIT and clean-air insulation, in kg CO2e (the chart prints European thousands separators, normalized here): material/manufacturing/transport 39,216 vs 28,667; operation over 40 years 151,996 vs 26,961; end of life 2,796 vs -20,363. In total the 8VN1 Blue GIS saves 159 t CO2e.
Footnotes state: GWP of the insulation gas = 0, and the GWP of power losses depends on the generation mix — for a renewable mix (e.g. hydro, wind) it is 0. A side-by-side box contrasts SF6 (high environmental impact plus costs for special maintenance and gas density checks, special trainings, reporting and taxes, and gas recycling) with clean air (no environmental impact, non-toxic and non-hazardous, no density checks, training-free, reporting-free, gas-recycling-free).
The Siemens Energy Blue portfolio covers many more F-gas-free product lines and ratings beyond the 8VN1. More information is available at siemens-energy.com/blue-products.
Click any figure to enlarge.