China's First 500kV Environmental-Friendly Gas Insulation Project for Power Plants Put into Operation: Perfluoroisobutyronitrile Leads Green Transformation of Power Industry​

Recently, China's first 500kV environmental-friendly gas insulation project for power plants was successfully commissioned at Beilun Power Plant (State Energy Group Zhejiang Company). By replacing traditional sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) with perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N), it marks a breakthrough in greenhouse gas replacement for China's high-voltage electrical sector, offering key insights for industrial low-carbon transition.​

1. Addressing SF6's Environmental Challenge: Urgency for Carbon Cuts​
Regulated under the Paris Agreement, SF6 is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of 22,800 and ~3,200-year atmospheric lifetime. Though excellent for insulation and arc-extinguishing, it hinders the power industry's "dual carbon" goals (carbon peaking, carbon neutrality). With China, the U.S., EU and others rolling out SF6 bans, finding alternatives like perfluoroisobutyronitrile has become critical for grid safety and green development.​

2. Perfluoroisobutyronitrile: Merging Eco-Friendliness, Safety and Performance​
As a new insulating gas, perfluoroisobutyronitrile causes no ozone depletion, has far lower GWP than SF6 and shorter atmospheric lifetime—cutting emissions at the source. The project is set to reduce carbon by ~85 tons, equal to the sequestration of nearly 5,000 mature trees. It produces minimal harmful decomposition products under extreme conditions (e.g., discharge, high temperatures), lowering health risks for operators. Its -4.7°C liquefaction temperature also adapts to diverse climates, overcoming low-temperature limits of some alternatives.​

3. Industry Significance: Pioneering Carbon Reduction in High-Voltage Electricals​
This project not only confirms perfluoroisobutyronitrile's viability in high-voltage scenarios and solves SF6 replacement bottlenecks but also delivers ecological and economic wins. It boosts enterprises' green competitiveness and creates extra value via carbon trading, offering a "Chinese solution" for the power industry's low-carbon future.​

4. Shanghai Kstone's Contribution: Full-Set Equipment for C4F7N Application​
In supporting the industrial application of perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N), Shanghai Kstone has developed a complete set of equipment tailored for this new environmental-friendly gas. The product portfolio includes C4F7N leak detectors, ratio testers, gas mixing and filling devices, as well as recovery, separation and purification equipment. Notably, the company has already achieved delivery performance of these full-set devices, providing solid hardware support for the stable operation, efficient management and recycling of C4F7N in high-voltage electrical projects, and further promoting the large-scale application of SF6 alternative technologies in the power industry.