Siemens has installed and commissioned the world’s first 8DAB 24, the groundbreaking blue GIS medium-voltage system, in the Alpine town of Davos, Switzerland for its customer EWD Elektrizitätswerk Davos AG. The switchgear system, which uses Clean Air as insulating gas instead of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), is deployed in the Dorf substation in Davos, securing reliable power supply for up to 40,000 people. The installation of this 24kV circuit-breaker switchgear is an important step towards a climate-friendly and smart power distribution in Davos. The Fluor-gas-free blue GIS-portfolio was launched by Siemens ahead of EU regulations, serving as another proof point of the company’s focus on sustainability across its portfolio. Siemens introduced the first SF6-free solution around seven years ago, since then installed many more successfully and this being the latest addition.

“If we want to achieve our net-zero targets, we need to make power grids future ready with innovative, eco-friendly technology,” said Matthias Rebellius, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “Therefore, it is essential to invest in the continued expansion of power grids. I am pleased that our long-standing customer EWD is using our pioneering switchgear technology that paves the way for climate-neutral and smart power distribution in Davos.”

“SF6 was never ideal for the environment,” said Andy Kollegger, CEO of EWD. “There was no doubt in our minds: If there is an alternative on the market that has the same functionality but without this disadvantage, we will switch to it.”

With over 1.3 million overnight guests in 2023, Davos is one of Switzerland’s biggest tourist destinations. It is also the venue for the World Economic Forum (WEF) that sees almost 3,000 guests flocking to the town each year. While close to 12,000 residents live in the highest town in the Alps year-round, Davos accommodates over 40,000 people during high season. EWD Elektrizitätswerk Davos AG operates three substations, 168 transformer stations, 154 kilometers of medium-voltage grid and 300 kilometers of low-voltage grid in the Davos grid area.

Reliable power supply is essential to a well-functioning infrastructure. At the heart of sustainable power distribution is switchgear. Its applications include substations where it connects power generators and large power consumers, such as industrial plants or data centers, to the power grid. Another important role of switchgear is monitoring and protecting power grids, for example against short circuits. The Clean Air used as an insulating medium in the blue GIS portfolio consists of natural components of ambient air, making it climate-friendly, extremely stable, non-toxic, non-flammable, and suitable for all operating temperatures.

In addition, the blue GIS switchgear is equipped with smart sensors and standardized interfaces for Electrification X. Part of Siemens Xcelerator, Electrification X is a comprehensive IoT suite that provides solutions to challenges faced by public and private power grid operators. It improves energy efficiency and enables a seamless digital and sustainable transformation.

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