SF 6 in electrical equipment is contained and not intentionally released during operation. Recycling of SF 6 from electric power equipment, using commercial gas reclaimers, is becoming common practice on the basis of environmental responsibility and for economic reasons. Until recently, however, this has only generally been practicable where relatively large quantities of SF 6 were involved. Preliminary data on the electricity industry in the EU indicates that by 1995 some 4100 t of SF 6 were present in European high voltage switchgear. In the UK , around a half of SF 6 emissions comes from magnesium foundries.
Guidelines now require foundries to monitor consumption in order that emissions can be estimated.
SF 6 was included in the basket of gases, but it was agreed that 1995 could be used as the base year for the reductions, since data on emissions prior to 1995 are very uncertain. The UK Government's second report on its Climate Change Programme in 1997 included SF 6 for the first time in its inventory of greenhouse gases whose emissions are to be reduced. Post Kyoto, the Government is developing a revised Climate Change Programme, which will address its Kyoto commitments. The Government has called on the top 350 companies to take a lead in reporting on all their greenhouse gas emissions and is developing guidance on a common methodology. An early requirement is likely to be the establishment of a system for the annual reporting of SF 6 installed, purchased for refilling and lost to the atmosphere.