Schneider Electric has shared findings from a new IDC White Paper, ‘SF₆ (Sulphur Hexafluoride)-Free MV Switchgear: Industry Readiness, Decision Drivers, and the Way Forward’, at the recently concluded 28th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), organized by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) at Dubai World Trade Centre from 20 to 22 October.
The IDC study, sponsored by Schneider Electric, surveyed 700 medium-voltage infrastructure decision-makers across seven regions and four sectors: electric utilities, data centers, electro-intensive industries and physical infrastructure.
In the Middle East, 14% of organizations have already begun transitioning to SF₆-free equipment and a further 32% expect to begin within two years. Almost all of the remainder expect to transition within five years, and 99% consider SF₆ regulation in their country likely within that period.
Confidence
The research also shows where confidence still needs to be built. Middle East respondents cited technical readiness (58%), supply chain availability (47%), product availability (46%) and cost (42%) as the main barriers to adoption. Currently, only 29% assess the full lifecycle cost of their equipment, including end-of-life handling of SF₆.
One finding has particular relevance for a utility-convened event. Globally, 73% of respondents say that utility or grid operator guidance influences their procurement decisions, and IDC identifies national utilities in the GCC among the markets where the transition is expected to move fastest once that guidance is in place.
Electric utilities already lead every readiness measure in the study, with 79% willing to adopt SF₆-free equipment and 62% piloting new technologies ahead of regulation.
Decision-makers
“WETEX brings decision-makers together in one place, which is why we chose to share these findings here, alongside the technology that makes the transition practical,” commented Amel Chadli, Gulf Cluster and Countries President, Schneider Electric.
For water operators, the stand showcased EcoStruxure Water Simulation and AVEVA digital twin tools for planning networks before capital is committed, a smart pumping station built on Altivar Process drives and EcoStruxure Automation Expert, and the AVEVA Digital Water Platform with smart water network analytics for operating an entire water system from a single digital environment.
Schneider Electric technology runs in more than 40,000 water and environment installations in over 150 countries, and the company works with 10 of the world’s largest electric grid and utility operators.
