Vacuum circuit breaker 3AV1 Blue LT

air-operatedlive-tankair-insulated

Overview
Decarbonizing the energy sector requires eliminating F-gases from high-voltage equipment. Siemens Energy’s Blue portfolio replaces SF6 with vacuum switching and clean-air insulation to provide SF6-free high-voltage switchgear while preserving technical performance and cost-efficiency. The portfolio is designed for onshore, offshore and industrial grid applications.

Technology
Blue products rely on vacuum interrupters and clean-air insulation. The architecture maintains switching performance and lifecycle cost targets, leveraging over a decade of experience in high-voltage vacuum switching. Digital integration options enable optimized operation and maintenance workflows.

Key features and benefits

• Zero F-gases (replaces SF6)
• Vacuum switching technology (vacuum interrupters)
• Clean-air insulation replacing SF6
• Zero toxicity and reduced environmental impact
• Maintains technical switching and insulation performance with competitive lifecycle costs
• Modular and customizable designs for onshore, offshore and turbine installations

Highlighted Blue products (selected items)

• 8VM3 Blue GIS: Operates at 72.5 kV; compact modular design; suited for onshore grids, industry, renewables and offshore substations.
• 3AV1 Blue LT Circuit Breaker: 145 kV live-tank vacuum circuit breaker with clean-air insulation; same footprint as SF6 equivalents.
• 3AV1 Blue DT Circuit Breaker: 145 kV dead-tank vacuum circuit breaker with clean-air insulation; same footprint as SF6 equivalents.
• 8VM1 Blue GIS: 72.5 kV GIS adapted for installation in wind turbines; optimized for turbine applications.
• 8VN1 Blue GIS: 145 kV GIS with vacuum circuit breaker and clean-air insulation; optimized footprint with LPIT.
• Gas-Insulated Busduct (GIB): Busduct with clean-air insulation for voltages up to 420 kV; potential to save up to 60% F-gases compared to conventional alternatives.

Factory and production
Siemens Energy has invested in a Berlin facility to ramp production of vacuum interrupters for the Blue portfolio. The factory supports supply chain security, increased capacity and operates on 100% renewable energy to reduce the manufacturing footprint.

Projects & installations
Blue technology is deployed in reference projects worldwide: offshore wind farms (8VM1/8VM3 bay deployments), net-zero substations (eco-efficient Burladingen substation without SF6), port power systems (Bergen Port), and initial F-gas-free installations in Finland. The EU LIFE Blue project demonstrates a 420 kV SF6-free GIS at transmission scale.

Digital integration
The portfolio supports digital substation integration (Noedra Node and related solutions) for real-time data, analytics and automation. Embedded Digital Sensgear™ features enable enhanced monitoring, predictive maintenance and operational decision support.

Performance & sustainability message
Blue products aim to preserve or improve switching and insulation performance and lifecycle reliability while substantially reducing greenhouse gas impact by removing SF6 from high-voltage equipment.

Technical specifications

• Insulation: clean air (replacing SF6)
• Switching: vacuum interrupter technology
• Nominal/illustrative voltages: 72.5 kV (8VM3, 8VM1), 145 kV (3AV1 LT/DT, 8VN1), up to 420 kV (GIB demonstrations)
• Design: modular, compact, customizable for onshore, offshore and turbine applications
• Built-in digitalization options: Digital Sensgear™ and Noedra Node compatibility
• Manufacturing: increased vacuum interrupter production via Berlin plant (100% renewable energy)
• Environmental: Zero F-gases, zero toxicity, significant reduction of GWP vs. SF6 solutions
• Use cases: substations, offshore wind, ports, industrial grids