Hitachi Energy enters into agreement with Norwegian BKK Nett

Hitachi Energy has signed a framework agreement with Norway's largest distribution grid company, BKK Nett, to install EconiQTM Live Tank Breaker (LTA) 145 kV circuit breakers in more than 10 substations in the western region. For Hitachi Energy, this is the first framework agreement in the world for environmentally efficient EconiQ circuit breaker technology.

Norway plans to cut at least 50 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this goal, the country is taking steps to introduce eco-efficient technologies and accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality.

The first draft of the framework agreement is the Askøy substation located on an island west of Bergen, Norway. BKK Nett is reconstructing the substation to meet the growing demand for electricity from businesses and households.

The new EconiQ LTA 145 kV circuit breaker uses carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) as insulating mixtures instead of conventional sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas that has been the norm for decades due to its excellent insulating and switching properties. The EconiQ high voltage portfolio essentially eliminates the CO2 equivalent emissions associated with insulating gas and has been proven to significantly reduce the carbon footprint throughout the entire life cycle.

Hitachi Energy recently announced that it is accelerating the development of green solutions by laying out its extensive EconiQ roadmap for switchgear and circuit breakers with various voltage levels. This enables customers and the industry as a whole to reduce their carbon footprint and quickly move towards environmentally efficient solutions.