SF6 Gas Circuit Breaker Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Voltage (Medium voltage, High voltage), By Installation (Outdoor, Indoor) And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The gas circuit breaker is mainly used as a high voltage current chopping device. Sulfur hexafluoride circuit breakers protect electric systems by interrupting electric current when a fault occurs. They consist of current-carrying contacts that operate in sulfur hexafluoride gas.

Excellent physical and chemical properties of sulfur hexafluoride, including electro-negativity, arc extinguishing, insulation, non-inflammability, and stability,  drive the global sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker market. They are used to absorb free electrons from the disconnector chamber owing to their negative affinity property. Usually, fuses, oil circuit breakers, and many more are used, however, gas circuit breakers are considered as a more efficient means to chop voltage as compared to the conventional methods typically for applications involving medium and high voltages.

Based on the installation, the SF6 gas circuit breaker market is segregated into outdoor and indoor. The outdoor segment held the largest share of the circuit breaker market, by installation in 2019. Also, the demand for outdoor circuit breakers is increasing as infrastructural developments are taking place in countries with high urbanization rates. While the indoor segment does hold that much share as outdoor and with that demand for this keeps getting fluctuating.

Based on voltage, the market is classified into medium and high voltage. The high voltage segment held the largest share of the circuit breaker market, by voltage in 2019. To cater to the increasing demand for electricity in residential areas and to provide power supply with high reliability, many utilities are investing in high-voltage circuit breakers, which is expected to drive the high-voltage circuit breaker market. Furthermore, medium voltage growth in the market is less as compared to high voltage and its demand in the electrical transmission network is getting decreased day by day.

The global demand for sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker is expected to increase in the near future, owing to increasing investments in renewable power generation and power transmission. Companies operating in the circuit breaker market are investing in the expansion of their product portfolios as well as their distribution networks.

Regulations and policies about the usage of sulfur hexafluoride hinder the market. The use of circuit breakers in various sectors faces restrictions as per the current environmental protection protocol. Wider use of sulfur hexafluoride faces major challenges. This, in turn, is anticipated to hinder the global market during the forecast period.

Key Players Covered:

Major companies operating in the SF6 gas circuit breaker market include Schneider Electric SE, Kirloskar Electric Company, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Siemens AG, ABB Group, Hitachi T&D Solutions, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tavrida Electric, Toshiba Corporation, and Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Regional Analysis:

The SF6 gas circuit breaker market has been segregated into five key regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is a leading consumer of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breakers, followed by North America and Europe. China and India are key markets in the region. In terms of demand, the two countries account for a major share of the market in the region. An increase in the demand for circuit breakers in the Asia Pacific can be attributed to continuously increasing industrialization and rising demand for electric power in the region.

Investments for new power generation and transmission are rising in various developing countries of Asia Pacific. This, in turn, is expected to fuel the demand for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breakers for use in power transmission and distribution in the next few years. China is the largest and fastest-growing market in the region. Also, it is considered the leading country in the world in power transmission & distribution. The country mostly focuses on developing transmission lines that are capable of high-load transfer over long distances and creating a nationwide reliable power system. There are rapid development and growth of renewable energy projects such as wind and solar in China.

Segmentation

Key Developments

• In September 2020, Siemens launched the type SDV-R non-arc-resistant and type SDV-R-AR arc-resistant medium-voltage outdoor distribution circuit breakers that are designed for renewable energy applications, such as wind power generation.


• In January 2020, Siemens acquired C&S Electric, a manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment, to cater to the growing need for electrification products. The scope of the acquisition included the Indian operations of C&S Electric’s low-voltage switchgear components and panels.


• In September 2020, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies announced the expansion of the Endurant Automated Transmission lineup with the launch of the Endurant XD series. The series is high-performance automated transmissions designed for on-highway applications.