GE Vernova completes its SF₆-free gas-insulated switchgear range with new 170 kV product launched at CIGRE Paris 2026

At CIGRE Paris 2026, GE Vernova announced the launch of its F35g 170 kV SF₆-free gas-insulated switchgear—the product that completes the company’s full SF₆-free GIS range for transmission grids. The milestone arrives ten years after GE Vernova introduced its first g³ technology product as an alternative to sulfur hexafluoride, a gas long favored in high-voltage equipment for its insulating properties but also recognized as a potent greenhouse gas.

With the F35g 170 kV now available for order, GE Vernova’s SF₆-free GIS lineup spans five voltage levels, from 72.5 kV to 420 kV.

GE Vernova unveils F35g 170 kV GIS at CIGRE Paris 2026

GE Vernova made it official on August 26, 2026, at CIGRE Paris 2026—one of the power industry’s biggest international gatherings. The F35g 170 kV slots into an already established lineup covering 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 245 kV, and 420 kV, filling the last remaining gap in the company’s SF₆-free transmission portfolio.

Its compact design makes it especially valuable in urban environments and other space-constrained locations where a bulkier alternative simply isn’t practical.

The product is part of GE Vernova’s GRiDEA portfolio, a collection of technologies aimed at cutting the carbon footprint of high-voltage electrical infrastructure. Utilities can place orders immediately, and manufacturing is based in Europe.

Why SF₆-free switchgear matters for the power sector

To understand why this launch matters, it helps to know what SF₆ actually does—and why it’s become a problem. Sulfur hexafluoride has been a staple of high-voltage electrical equipment for decades, prized for insulating properties strong enough to handle intense electrical stresses inside switchgear reliably.

The catch is its environmental profile. SF₆ is a potent greenhouse gas, and its presence in grid infrastructure has drawn growing scrutiny from regulators and utilities alike. That pressure has pushed the industry toward alternatives that don’t compromise on performance.

Gas-insulated switchgear plays a critical role in substations—safely controlling and protecting the flow of high-voltage electricity. Its compact design makes it especially valuable in urban environments and other space-constrained locations where a bulkier alternative simply isn’t practical. GE Vernova’s answer was g³ technology: a direct substitute for SF₆ insulation, engineered to deliver comparable performance without the greenhouse gas impact.

F35g 170 kV: Key technical and environmental features

The F35g 170 kV is built to match what utilities already expect from conventional SF₆-based GIS—solid performance, reliable operation, a compact footprint. GE Vernova’s stated goal was to remove SF₆ from the equation without asking customers to accept trade-offs in how the equipment actually works.

Beyond the insulation swap, the product is digital-native. Integrated monitoring and digital capabilities give operators better visibility into equipment condition and real-time performance—a meaningful addition for grid operators managing increasingly complex networks.

The F35g 170 kV meets both IEC and IEEE requirements. That dual compliance opens the product to electricity markets across different regulatory frameworks, broadening the potential customer base considerably. GE Vernova also applies Life Cycle Assessments to evaluate carbon emissions across the full product lifespan—raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, operational use, and end of life—to identify opportunities for reducing climate impact beyond simply swapping out the insulating gas.

As Yannick Kieffel, Power Transmission Chief Technology Officer at GE Vernova, put it: “The challenge has evolved from simply finding an alternative insulating gas to designing high-voltage equipment that can help customers reduce carbon emission impact across the life cycle of their infrastructure without compromising performance.”

Ten years of g³ technology development since 2016

GE Vernova introduced its first g³ product in 2016. The F35g 170 kV launch, a full decade later, marks how far that initial bet on alternative insulation technology has traveled—from a single product to a complete SF₆-free GIS range spanning five voltage levels for transmission grids.

The decade-long development wasn’t a straight line. GE Vernova expanded g³ technology across its high-voltage portfolio progressively, voltage level by voltage level, with the 170 kV product serving as the final piece for transmission applications.

Development of the F35g 170 kV received partial support through France 2030, a national investment program operated by ADEME — the French public agency focused on supporting the country’s low-carbon transition. That backing reflects broader policy momentum in Europe around reducing industrial reliance on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

What this means for utilities and the grid

The completion of GE Vernova‘s SF₆-free GIS range gives utilities a practical option at every major transmission voltage level: 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 170 kV, 245 kV, and 420 kV. That breadth matters. A utility planning a new substation or upgrading existing infrastructure no longer has to mix SF₆-free and conventional equipment across different voltage tiers.

The F35g 170 kV is available for order now, manufactured in Europe. Attendees at CIGRE Paris 2026 — running through August 28 — can get a closer look at Stand C93. The product sits within the GRiDEA portfolio, which GE Vernova positions as its broader offering for lower-carbon, high-performance grid infrastructure. For utilities navigating pressure to cut fluorinated gas use while keeping transmission networks reliable, the full lineup now covers the range.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.