Gas insulated switchgears (GIS) offer effective solutions to issues such as space constrains, safety, etc in the transmission & distribution segment, especially in cities having high population density. Rise in contribution of renewables in the energy basket is also leading to demand for GIS.

Switchgear, a protective device used in transmission & distribution (T&D), is a combination of various types of components such as circuit breakers, current transformers, potential transformers, lightning arrestors, protection relays, and disconnectors arranged in a logical manner. The main function of switchgears is to effectively protect equipment and circuits from unregulated power spikes. Based on the material used for arc quenching, switchgears are classified as gas-insulated switchgears (GIS), air-insulated switchgears (AIR), oil-insulated switchgears (OIS), and vacuum-insulated switchgears (VIS).

According to Research and Markets (RNM), India switchgear market is projected to reach $3.7 billion by 2022. “Growing transmission and distribution network and rural electrification program coupled with infrastructure development are the key factors driving the switchgear market in India. Government schemes and initiatives such as UDAY and DDUGJY are expected to further fuel the growth of switchgear market in the forecast period,” stated the RNM report.

Rapidly growing commercial and residential sectors are leading to high demand for low voltage switchgears, which dominate the overall India switchgear market. As per the RNM report, the Northern region accounted for the largest revenue share in the country during 2015-16 followed by the Western region. However, Southern region, along with North, is anticipated to witness highest growth rate during 2016-22, added RNM.

Advantage gas insulated switchgear

It is important to establish an electrical substation at load center in an economical and profitable manner. By this the quality of voltage regulation improves due to reduced length of feeders and short length feeders. But the main hurdle in establishing a substation at load center is space. In general, the main load center is situated at very congested place (especially in cities), where sufficient land for setting up conventional electrical substation is hardly available.

By using gas insulated switchgear (GIS) technology this problem can be solved. Using GIS, a type of metal enclosed switchgear, all the necessary components of switchgear can be assembled in very limited space. Typically, in GIS, all the equipment of the electrical switchgear are enclosed by gas tight metal enclosure with SF6 gas being used as insulation between live parts of the equipments and earthed metal enclosure. In order to establish, electrical substation in very limited place, SF6 insulated electrical switchgear plays a major role. Gas insulated switchgears are available from 12 KV systems to 800 KV system.

GIS offers various advantages over other conventionally used switchgears. “Highly compact, GIS substations save up to 70% space compared to AIS (air-insulated switchgear) substations, depending upon substation configuration. GIS has enhanced safety and aesthetics (substation can be housed in a building or even underground) features,” says Anupam Arya, Business Manager for GIS, ABB India.

The demand driver

As per MarketsandMarkets (MNM), the global market for GIS is expected to grow from an estimated $16.53 billion in 2016 to $ 25.95 billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 9.4%, with Asia Pacific region leading the demand. In medium voltage, while air insulated switchgear (AIS) holds the major revenue share, GIS is expected to increase its market share in the coming years.

The demand for GIS is expected to witness growth as it offers better capacity compared to conventional switchgear, optimised energy efficiency, reliability, and security to multiple energy sources. GIS have compact structure, longer lifespan and low maintenance cost.

Of the two major types of GIS, high voltage and medium voltage, the former accounts for major market share as high voltage gas insulated switchgears are efficient to transmit electricity at high voltage, extra high voltage, and ultra-high voltage level.

In many cases, the renewable energy generator is directly connected to the national grid, which generates electricity of high-voltage or ultra-high voltage level. It is here, due to its less space consumption, high voltage gas insulated switchgears are widely used in many of the developed and developing nations, which face space constraints. For example, the Government of India (GoI) is planning to reach a renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by 2022. This is expected to give a push to investment in transmission and distribution sector and, in turn, increase demand for GIS in India.

“The demand for GIS in India has grown sharply in last 5 years. Today, GIS volume is almost half of the total switchgear market volume in India. The major drivers for GIS demand growth in India are space constraints, higher land cost in and around cities, land acquisition issues, difficult terrain in hilly areas etc,” says Arya.

Infrastructure and transportation are the fast-growing end-user segments for GIS. High speed infrastructure growth and minimisation of CO2 emission by relying on electric traction in railway and metro transportation system are the key driving factors.

The Government of India is targeting to provide power for all and this is leading to rise in demand for GIS. “The ‘24x7 Power for All’ program will require strengthening of the transmission and distribution system in the country and therefore positively impact overall switchgear demand,” opines Arya.

Heading for a high voltage growth

Some of the leading global players in GIS industry such as ABB Ltd, Mitsubishi Corporation, GE, Schneider Electric, Siemens, etc, are trying to penetrate the Indian markets and are adopting various strategies to increase their marketshare. For example, to tap local market potential, ABB has set up a state-of-the-art green field manufacturing facility in India in 2013 to manufacture GIS from 72.5kV to 420 kV as per common global design platform. “This facility will also be used to supply 800 kV GIS to support government’s ambitious Make in India initiative. ABB plans to grow in the market by presenting the most advanced and complete product portfolio. ABB’s GIS is eco- efficient, fully built and tested in the factory leading to high quality and faster installation at site. ABB also plans to increase localization of the skills, technology and production in India to grow in local market,” says Arya. Automation and digitalisation are likely to drive development in T&D leading to adoption better technology in this sector. “The emerging trends in switchgear industries are unmanned substations and digitalisation. However, eco-efficient products trend is yet to be seen in India,” opines Arya.

The demand for GIS in India is expected to witness an upswing with rising investments in the transmission & distribution sector for renewable energy generation - encouraging more substations to be installed for high voltage transmission. With focus on decreasing the emission level by bringing in highly developed technologies into operation and investing in substation projects, the GIS market will continue its growth northward.