Global Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (Outlook to 2028)

The global gas insulated switchgear (GIS) market growth is driven by the factors likes expansion of existing transmission and distribution networks to meet Increasing demand for electricity, the replacement of outdated power infrastructure, and the rising need for an uninterrupted, safe, secure supply of electricity.

Furthermore, the global gas insulated switchgear market is expected to grow as a result of factors such as increased investments in smart grids, rapid industrialization and urbanization, increased investment in renewable sources such as solar and wind energy, and integration of such renewable into the existing grid infrastructure.

However, the growth of the gas insulated switchgear market is being hampered due to expensive initial capital investment compared to other types of switchgear such as air insulated switchgear and the environmental effect of SF6 gas used in gas insulated switchgear.

The GIS, or Gas insulated switchgear, is a solid metal-encased device that contains various high-voltage components such as disconnectors, busbar and circuit breakers. These devices may be used extremely safely in restricted locations such as small spaces. For instance, it is utilized in the extension of city buildings, offshore platforms, rooftops, and other facilities such as industrial and hydropower.

Sulfur hexafluoride switchgear protects electrical power stations and distribution networks by halting electric currents when activated by a protective relay. Instead of using oil, air, or a vacuum, a sulphur hexafluoride circuit breaker employs sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas to cool and quench the arc when a circuit is opened.

SF6 switchgear is commonly employed in transmission grids with transmission voltages of up to 800 kV, as generator circuit breakers, and in distribution systems with 35 kV.

For phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground insulation, gas-insulated switchgear employs the dielectric gas sulphur hexafluoride, commonly known as SF6, at moderate pressure. Because of its excellent dielectric characteristic, it is widely utilized in high voltage transmission and distribution systems, as well as generating substation.

Switchgear loaded with SF6 takes up very little space and is thus appropriate for areas where space is limited. With worldwide investments in the power industry increasing, mainly in renewable sources, the SF6 gas-insulated switchgear market is anticipated to develop significantly throughout the forecast period.

The major benefit of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) over Air Insulated Switchgears (AIS) or Mixed Technology Switchgear (MTS) is its compactness, which has an immediate impact on land needs, land cost, aesthetic impact, and potential technological applications. The small size provides a wide range of design options, allowing for indoor, outdoor, underground, hybrid, and containerized installations (even for temporary operation). GIS's modular architecture, along with its compactness, enables unique site needs to be addressed to a greater extent than Air Insulated Switchgears (AIS).

However, gas insulated switchgears have a few drawbacks, such as high initial expenditures and high replacement costs in the event of equipment breakdown.

Gas-insulated switchgear is widely used in the power transmission utility and generation, power distribution (Transmission lines), and transportation industries (predominantly Railways & Metros). During the projected period, the transmission and distribution sector is predicted to be the most significant for gas-insulated switchgear market.

This dominance may be ascribed to increased power demand due to urbanization and population growth, which has resulted in an expansion in the global transmission network. A rising transmission network will lead to transmission network growth, which will lead to an increase in the number of substations, which will raise demand for global switchgear market.

Key Opportunities:

• The surge in investments in renewable energy sources and surge in smart grid initiatives is also an opportunity to gas insulated switchgear industry because GIS delivers benefits such as cheaper maintenance and increased safety.
• Research into alternative gases to SF6 in order to reduce the environmental effect.
• Increase in Electric Vehicle (EV) usage and implementation of development activities to improve EV charging infrastructure.
• There is a significant need for assured power generation and supply due to the growing population, urbanization, and industry, necessitating sustainable and efficient T&D infrastructure development.

Recent Developments:

• In August 2021, The EU's LIFE program considered GE Renewable Energy's g3 insulating and switching gas as a viable alternative to SF6 for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission's LIFE climate action program has given GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions division (NYSE-GE) EUR 2.5 million to assist fund the construction of an SF6free 245 kV g3 live tank circuit-breaker.
• In April 2021, GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions division and Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd. signed a non-exclusive cross-licensing agreement for the use of an alternate gas to sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which is utilized in high voltage equipment. When compared to SF6, this fluoronitrile-based gas combination has a substantially lower environmental effect.
• Bharat Aluminum Company (BALCO) has awarded Hitachi ABB Power Grids a project worth more than Rs.124 crore to construct an upgraded power distribution system at its Korba facility in Chhattisgarh. According to the order, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a technological pioneer, will provide fully engineered 400-kilovolt gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations. This will be used to replace an existing apparatus.
• Fingrid, Finland's transmission system operator, has awarded Siemens Energy a contract to provide ten bays of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). It will be Finland's first GIS to replace SF6 as the world's most potent greenhouse gas with "clean air," a pure combination of nitrogen and oxygen with no global warming potential.

In regional Segmentation, The Asia Pacific (APAC) market segment is expected to have higher market growth of high voltage GIS market due to factors like Rising population & energy consumption and space constraints in densely populated metropolitan regions and a surge in government attempts to enhance power access in rural areas.

Blackridge Research's Global Gas Insulated Switchgears Market report provides insights into the current global market demand and regional market demand scenario and its outlook.

The study offers a detailed analysis of various factors instrumental in affecting the Gas Insulated Switchgears market's growth. The study also comprehensively analyses the Gas Insulated Switchgears market by segmenting it based on Insulation Type (SF6 gas Switchgears and SF6-Free Switchgears), based on Application (Indoor Switchgear and Outdoor switchgear), based on Voltage (Low Voltage Switchgear, Medium Voltage Switchgear, and High Voltage Switchgear) and based on region (North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Rest of the world).

The Gas Insulated Switchgear Market report also addresses present and future market opportunities, market trends, developments, and the Covid 19 impact on the Gas Insulated Switchgears market, critical commercial developments, trends, regions, and segments poised for the fastest-growth (including market growth rate), competitive landscape.

Further, the Global Gas Insulated Switchgear Market research report will also provide Gas Insulated Switchgears market size (total Gas Insulated Switchgears market revenue), demand forecast, and Industry growth rates (CAGR), Market Share of key players in the market, and trade (imports and exports).