ABB has been selected as one of the finalists in the 2012 Banksia Environmental Awards in the Clean Technology – Harnessing Opportunities category for its new sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas recycling technology.
The SF6 gas recycling technology was developed by an Australian team and has been implemented at a dedicated SF6 gas recycling centre in Moorebank, west of Sydney.
This national award is regarded as one of the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.
The Banksia Environmental Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events.
ABB Australia country manager, Axel Kuhr, said sustainability is about balancing economic success, environmental stewardship and social progress for the benefit of all stakeholders.
"Being a finalist in the 2012 Banksia Environmental Awards recognises ABB for its innovative and successful approach to developing a technology for the comprehensive recycling of contaminated SF6 gas," he said.
"The technology is based on a new energy-efficient cryogenic process."
The new patented technology has been successfully commercialised at a dedicated SF6 recycling plant ABB has established in Sydney, with international applications to commence shortly.
The purity of recycled SF6 gas using the newly developed technology is about 99.99 percent and is in accordance with technical grade IEC 60376 (the standard for new gas), which enables SF6 to be reused again and again in electrical equipment.
"Using recycled SF6 gas will help reduce carbon emissions and could result in a cost savings potential of up to 30 percent," Kuhr said.
"In addition, a focus on delivering world best practice gas management of SF6, a high potential global warming gas, also delivers beneficial environmental outcomes.
"The technology closes the lifecycle of SF6 ensuring a minimal environmental footprint for this gas; a gas that is vital for the efficient, safe and reliable transmission of electricity"
The Banksia Award winners will be announced in Melbourne on October 26, 2012.
SF6 gas technology
