Hands-on workshop for Latin-American NDEs focused on SF₆ at the Regional Climate Week in Panama

One kilogram of sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) traps as much heat as 23 500 kg of CO₂ and lingers in the atmosphere for roughly 3 200 years (IPCC). Yet 80 % of all SF₆ is still used in electrical switchgear and 89 % of the resulting emissions come from our power grids—but only 35 % of countries even mention this super-pollutant in their NDCs. The world’s most potent greenhouse gas is leaking while our policies look the other way.

Last week, at the 4th LAC NDE Forum in Panama City, CTCN and NDE Germany hosted a hands-on workshop for 30+ Latin-American NDEs focused on SF₆. We explored a 2.5 Gt CO₂e abatement potential by 2050, learned about EU F-gas policy to mitigate SF6, and heard Siemens Energy show that its “Clean Air” switchgear—already 6 000+ units and 32 million operating hours worldwide—proves SF₆-free grids are reality, not theory. Countries have begun reporting SF6 emission in 2024, under the Biennial Transparency Reports, yet they lack inventories, mitigation plans, and mobilizing financing for existing infrastructure. 

The takeaway is clear: proven, market-ready and affordable vacuum/clean-air switchgears cut life-cycle costs, simplify maintenance and wipe out the greenhouse gas with the highest global warming potential. As countries prepare their 2025 NDC updates and scale up resilient grids, we invite governments, utilities and financiers to join this growing coalition, access technical assistance and pilot funding, and switch gears for a net-zero power sector. Let’s make every new installation SF₆-free—and keep thousands of megatonnes of future emissions out of power networks.