Not as Green as it should be... SF6 leakage - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2019, 05:54:01 pm
content: I've just been watching an interesting news story. Apparently leakage of SF6is increasing rapidly from our electrical infrastructure (up by 8.1% in 2017). One reason is that, with wind farms etc. our generating capacity is becoming much wider spread that when it was restricted to a few large power stations.Given that SF6issucha powerful greenhouse gas - 23500 times that of CO2() and so persistent, it doesn't take much of it being released to start eroding the benefit being gained over fossil fuelled generation.It looks as if the industry really needs to get an urgent grip on this, both in preventing release and finding alternatives for switchgear and general HV insulation. They seem to be scoring a bit of an own-goal at the moment.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49567197

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2019, 10:57:50 pm
content: QuoteOnly if you don't do math.According to the article the UK and EU emit an equivalent amount of SF6 as 6.73 million tonnes of CO2. Some fraction of that is presumably due to increased wind generation.The EU produced 336 TWhr of wind power in 2017. Compared to natural gas, that saves 191 million tonnes of CO2.If wind power were responsible for 100% of the total SF6 emissions (which again, they are not), that would be equivalent to about 3.5% of the avoided emissions. That puts it on the same scale as the energy consumption used in their production and installation.It does sounds like something that should be addressed, but "wind power's dirty secret" and "a bit of an own goal" is not really reasonable.

author: fourtytwo42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2019, 07:24:07 am
content: Unfortunately this is typical BBC reportage, certainly no longer the respected organization it once was.

author: FreddieChopin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2019, 07:15:32 pm
content: What about all those tankers using 2-stroke diesels running on bunker fuel? That's more harmful than some minor leaks from trafos.

author: babysitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2019, 08:33:34 pm
content: SF6 is heavy as reproductive human interaction, good luck getting any up there.

author: mark03
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2019, 04:09:45 pm
content: Quote from: babysitter on September 26, 2019, 08:33:34 pmThat's right, scientists qualified in their field did a careful study, published the results, and OOPS they totally forgot to take this into account, whereas you, keen-eyed casual observer, have not let it slip by. Congratulations!

author: babysitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2019, 08:56:50 am
content: Hi Mark03,actually theat the end of the sentence and the expression style might well have pointed in the direction that I am not that serious.I recognize SF6 as a problem, not just by its GWP (even at this high value it was considered a 0.01% contributor around ~1997 when I was a apprentice at the electric distributor in my hometown) but also by the toxicity of the byproducts after use.Butifthe devices are maintained well and tight and, afterdevice lifetime, the SF6 is recovered we should be fine for more than the lifespan of my kids. (which all is well possible, even thermal decomposition and conversion to non-problematic waste is possible)That is very different to CO2 that emanates everywhere something is burned or methane coming out of living beings or natural sources that might have a higher leak rate due to drilling into them. In the case of SF6 the users have some responsibility which can be fulfilled at a relatively low price.Now, lets go with pitchforks after the people using sf6 for the effect on voice!Or, do I smell somebody whatabouting wind power vs. coal burning?Hendrik