EU F-Gas Ban Drives SF6-Free Data Center Upgrades

The European Union has announced a ban on new SF6-based medium-voltage (MV) switchgear up to 24kV, effective January 1, 2026, as part of the F-gas Regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power infrastructure.

• Data center electricity demand in Europe is projected to rise from 100 TWh in 2022 to 150 TWh by 2026, driven by digitalization and AI, necessitating new power generation and infrastructure.
• SF6-free MV switchgear, such as Schneider Electric’s AirSeT range, is now available and deployed globally (over 40,000 units), offering lower lifecycle costs (20-30% savings) and eliminating high end-of-life recycling costs (10-20% of initial equipment cost), supporting compliance and sustainability goals.