Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is the world’s most potent greenhouse gas and is used as an insulating medium in electrical equipment like circuit breakers and switchgears installed in transmission and distribution grids. SF6 is currently the main insulation gas deployed in switchgears in Kenya. The country currently operates a transmission network of about 9,011 km circuit length. Up to 2032, 38 new substations and 5,745 km of circuit length are planned to be established in the high-voltage segment alone.
SF6-free technologies for medium and high voltage applications are increasingly available, being technically viable and financially competitive. However, SF6-free technologies haven’t been adopted in Kenya so far. There is little awareness of SF6’s impacts and the existence of alternatives amongst key stakeholders in Kenya. SF6 emissions aren't captured in Kenya's greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and mitigation plans, baseline data on SF6 are lacking, there are no policies for an SF6 phase-out in place, and important capacities in terms of SF6 management are missing. This is putting Kenya on a trajectory of significantly increasing the electricity grid’s carbon footprint.
CTCN Support
This technical assistance aims to set the enabling environment for the transition to SF6-free technologies and phase-out of SF6 in Kenya. The objective of this technical assistance is to establish the enabling environment for SF6-free technology uptake and the phase-out of SF6 in Kenya.
Expected Impact
Some of the expected outcomes, outputs, and activities are;
- Development of implementation planning and periodical reporting documents.
- Formation and regular meetings
- Introduction of a Project Steering Mechanism.
- The establishment of an SF6 inventory and MRV Framework,
- the introduction of safe management of technologies using SF6,
- the evaluation of appropriate SF6-free equipment options,
- the development of a national SF6 phase-out roadmap and policy recommendations, and
- the preparation of SF6-free technology pilots
Seeking Experts
The UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is inviting its Network members to assist Kenya in this initiative. Interested qualified firms are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to participate in the upcoming solicitation for the provision of technical assistance for the "development of an SF6 phase-out roadmap and pilot projects". Please refer to the processes and documentation available at the UN Global Market Place (UNGM) and here.
In case you are not a CTCN network member yet, you may still apply here.