Guidelines for SF6 end-of-life treatment of T&D equipment (>1 kV) in substations

Electrical equipment using SF6 as insulating and/or arc quenching gas has been widely used globally since the second half of last century. Despite the very long asset lifetime, it is inevitable that equipment will reach its end-of-life (EoL). This guide summarises the well-known practices and informs the EoL procedure of handling electrical equipment containing SF6 and the SF6 itself. Every step of the process is explained in detail, from the preparation to recycling or final disposal. The target is to limit the SF6 emissions in every step of the processes dealing with the disposal of equipment parts and/or the recycling of SF6 used in all equipment, reaching their EoL to the absolute bare minimum that is technically achievable. Importantly, safety must be guaranteed at every single step.