Southern States Pioneers SF6-Free Grid Future with Natural Gas Switchgear
HAMPTON, Ga. — In a significant move for the power industry's decarbonization efforts, electrical equipment manufacturer Southern States LLC has unveiled a new product line designed to eliminate the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. The company's O2rigen technology substitutes SF6 with a natural-origin blend of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2), slashing the global warming potential (GWP) of its switching equipment from approximately 23,500 to less than 1.
The launch comes as utilities across North America and beyond face mounting regulatory and public pressure to phase out SF6. While prized for decades for its insulating properties in high-voltage switchgear, SF6 is an atmospheric heavyweight, persisting for over 3,000 years. California's Air Resources Board (CARB) has already enacted strict controls, setting a precedent other jurisdictions are expected to follow.
"Our goal wasn't just regulatory compliance," said John Paserba, President and CEO of Southern States. "We engineered a long-term solution that safeguards both the environment and the resilience of the power supply. This is about future-proofing the grid."
The initial O2rigen offerings include two products: the LLS-O2rigen load and line switcher, featuring a novel single-gap gas puffer interrupter, and the Cap38-O2rigen, engineered for restrike-free capacitor bank switching. Both are evolutions of the company's field-proven designs, mitigating adoption risks.
A key advantage, according to the company, is supply chain resilience. Unlike some synthetic alternative gases, CO2 and O2 are abundant and unrestricted. Units are shipped pre-sealed, requiring no complex on-site gas handling.
"This allows our customers to immediately reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the performance standards they rely on," added Kevin Goldstein, Vice President and General Manager of the Power Switching Division.
Founded in 1916, Southern States is a major global player in high-voltage disconnect switches. This launch positions the company at the forefront of a critical shift in electrical infrastructure.
Industry Reaction:
"This is the pragmatic innovation we've been waiting for," said Dr. Aris Thorne, a grid modernization researcher at the Northeast Energy Institute. "Leveraging existing design principles with a simple, natural gas mixture lowers the barrier for utilities to begin a meaningful SF6 phase-out. It's a sensible first step."
Maya Chen, a sustainability officer for a midwestern utility, expressed cautious optimism: "The environmental credentials are compelling, and the supply chain argument is strong. Our priority now is rigorous, independent field validation to ensure long-term performance parity in all climates."
A more critical perspective came from Leo Vance, an activist with the Climate Grid Watch coalition: "Finally, a manufacturer admits SF6 is a climate bomb! But let's be clear: this is overdue incrementalism, not a revolution. The entire industry dragged its feet for decades while this gas leaked into our atmosphere. We need mandated timelines for a full retrofit, not just greener options for new purchases. The time for quiet launches is over; we need emergency-scale replacement."