Eaton Rolls Out Its SF6 Free Technology Offering For More Users

For global power management player Eaton, India is an important growth region in Asia Pacific. India not only offers a huge market opportunity, but it also serves as a strategic location to enhance Eaton’s global competitiveness. Eaton, headquartered in Pune, provides sustainable electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, e-mobility and vehicle electrical components products and solutions. They also provide vehicles and mobile machinery controls, automation, and power management. With over 92,000 employees, Eaton’s presence is spread across 175 countries. Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Director – Marketing, Electrical Sector, Eaton, India spoke to us about the company’s hopes and expectations of closing the existing gaps in procurement of green products, more openness towards green products free of SF6 gases, entry of green products in domains like utilities, railways, and EVs; and lastly a mindset shift to a EV savvy environment.

Highlights:

1. “There is still some gap observed within the existing policies on the procurement of green products. While it is pertinent to follow global guidelines, challenges unique to India requirements also need to be addressed.”

2. “In view of Glasgow commitments: “India must now allow and give preference to green products in major consumers like Utilities, Railways, and EVs.”
3. “Green solutions for Net Zero goals and EV and renewables must have all green products free of SF6 gases.”

Q. What according to you have been some of the key takeaways from COP26 Summit? And do you think the commitments made by Prime Minister Modi will help the renewable sector come up well, from the perspective of end-to-end power solution players? 

COP26 has been an excellent initiative by world economies, and India has been committing to the best possible solutions in the current challenging climate. In my view, renewables worth 127 GW, an increase in EV chargers and EV vehicles, electrification of our rail network, and Industries becoming prosumers would help achieve these goals. India must now allow and give preference to green products in major consumers like Utilities, Railways, and EVs.

Q. As a global firm offering power management products and services, what is the depth you see in our policy framework and actions for pushing sustainable and energy-efficient products and solutions? 

India is very well committed to net-zero and sustainable goals, as announced in COP26 by the Honorable Prime Minister of India. To achieve these goals of Net Zero, all industries need to cooperate and participate with their share of contributions. With regards to electrical and particularly with our industry, many of the leading organizations, including Eaton, are working towards these goals under the guidance of IEEMA.

IEEMA has announced a push for sustainable products and bringing these technology products to India. During recently concluded SWICON, the much-deliberated topic was the road map to bring green products to India and the importance of industry participation and policymakers and think tanks. Besides Electrical Utilities, EV push for two and four-wheelers is also increasing day by day along with EV chargers across various states. Renewables is a fast-growing space, and 100GW installed in 2021 is a big mission accomplished with 127 GW planned across the wind and solar in 2022.

Q. Do you feel the current policy framework is enabling growth at a faster pace for this sector? And is there any specific policy intervention that may help further?

There is still some gap observed within the existing policies on the procurement of green products. While it is pertinent to follow global guidelines, challenges unique to India requirements also need to be addressed. While India policies are encouraging, renewables and EVs are still using SF6 technologies for power, whereas EV and Renewable are sustainable solutions. As far as identifying products that are aligned to local considerations go, we are positive because technologies like Solid Insulated have been in use in India for the last 14 years successfully.

Q. Which of your offerings in e-mobility, energy-efficient services, power management space help you in positioning yourself better in this fast-changing sector? 

Eaton is a pioneer in SF6 free technology (XIRIA) for the last 40 years and has also contributed to India growth by supplying more than 250 number to Mumbai in 2007. And over the last few years, Eaton has been one of the largest suppliers of green products like SF6 free switchgear to Tunnel boring machines used in Metro and Tunnel constructions across India.

Apart from SF6 free technologies, Eaton has been awarded for UPS as a reserve solution by F&S in 2021 to introduce innovative technologies in India that can be used for energy storage. Eaton being one of the leading switchgear and fuses suppliers in the country has a great demand for these products in EV and renewable segments.

Q. How is India doing in e-mobility? It is one of the 31 countries that have pledged to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. However, the current share of EV car sales is less than 4%? What needs to be done?

The mindset and the experience are something that needs a shift in thought process to be EV savvy. The regulations are getting redefined to meet these challenges, and most importantly, the demand and supply ratio needs improvement by giving a push to consumers and its benefits to users. Uniform policies and incentives for EV need rationalization across all states.

Q. What is the kind of policy intervention you expect to make a significant difference in this space? Can you share examples of countries who are already following this path? 

Green solutions for Net Zero goals and EV and renewables must have all green products free of SF6 gases. Currently, there is no such regulation, and all switchgear being procured are SF6 filled, which defeats the purpose and pushes us behind on our ambition to be net Zero.

ANZ, South Africa, China, the US (California), and the EU have already come out with regulations or changes in their procurement policies against SF6 use in industry. The use of such gases has already been banned from tyres, glass, toys, shoes, and refrigeration industries, and alternatives have been mandated.

Q. As the renewable energy sources pie surges in the overall energy mix, what are your expectations from the market? 

Eaton is working on the renewable Industry under “Energy Transition and Digitalization” and has been contributing by its wide range of fuses and switchgear. We hope the push of another 127 GW in 2022 and beyond many more years would bring visibility for new products which are not being procured today as the ratings and sizes of the Renewables power plants are increasing many folds.

Q. What are some of the toughest challenges power management and services companies like Eaton are facing today?

The major subject across the world is the increase in the cost of commodities as most of the products in this field consist of copper, aluminum, and resins. The current supply chain disruption and global logistics cost have forced industries to absorb the cost to meet the commitments made to customers for large and long-lead projects. The electronics shortage and dependency on some economies add more problems as many products are going digital in all segments. So overall, the increase in the cost of raw material, delays in the supply chain, and increase in logistics cost have hampered the growth and forced industries to think about solving these significant challenges currently.