Hitachi Energy is strengthening the European supply chain for its SF6-free high-voltage equipment through a new long-term agreement with Daikin Industries, with production of a key insulating gas component due to begin in Germany in 2027.
Under the agreement, Daikin Chemical Europe will supply C4-FN, a specialty gas used in the insulating mixtures for Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ high-voltage portfolio. Daikin Refrigerants Frankfurt will manufacture the material at its Frankfurt facility, adding European capacity to Hitachi Energy’s existing sources in Asia.
The move comes as utilities and industrial customers look for alternatives to SF6, which has traditionally been widely used in high-voltage switchgear because of its insulating and switching performance. SF6 has a global warming potential 24,300 times that of CO2.
Hitachi Energy says its C4-FN-based EconiQ equipment can cut CO2-equivalent emissions by 99% compared with conventional SF6-insulated equipment, while maintaining comparable technical performance, reliability and compactness.
The company has recorded more than 4,000 EconiQ orders across 40 countries, increasing the importance of securing supplies of the specialist materials required for production. Hitachi Energy is pursuing multiple sources for critical components, with the Daikin agreement intended to improve resilience as demand grows.
“As the demand for eco-efficient equipment continues to grow around the world, strengthening our supply chain is essential,” said Markus Heimbach, CEO of Hitachi Energy’s High Voltage Products business unit.
“Adding a world-class production site in Germany enhances supply resilience and supports the manufacturing of clean energy technologies in Europe,” he said.
For Daikin, the agreement extends its chemicals manufacturing activities into a component of the high-voltage equipment supply chain. Yasuhisa Hirao, general manager of the company’s Chemicals Division, said the deal reflected a “shared commitment” to the energy transition.
The Frankfurt production capacity is expected to be available from 2027. For grid operators, the development illustrates how the shift away from SF6 is creating new requirements not only for switchgear technology, but also for reliable supplies of the specialist gases needed to manufacture it.
