Carbon Dioxide Is Not the Worst Greenhouse Gas, Meet SF6

Could a switch to renewable sources like wind and solar power actually emit more of the most potent greenhouse gas there is?

The greenhouse gas in question is SF6, or sulfur hexafluoride.

SF6 is a colorless, odorless, cheap and non-flammable synthetic gas that is incredibly effective at insulating material for medium- and high-voltage electrical installation. Because sulfur hexafluoride displaces the air that feeds the flames, SF6 is used to help prevent short circuits and fires in high-voltage electrical switches and circuit breakers.

Over time, as we add more renewables (think: wind and solar power) to our electric grids, the need for more safety equipment grows as does the use of SF6.

But here's the thing: Sulfur hexafluoride is a fluorinated gas, which means it is part of a group of gasses with high global warming potentials. SF6 is 23,500 times more warming than carbon dioxide (CO2), and the potent greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential of any known substance, and by 2030, we’re expecting to use 75% more of it worldwide.

So does the increase in sulfur hexafluoride make all our efforts to switch to renewables for nought? What are the alternatives to SF6?

Find out that and more in this Elements.

#greenhousegas #sf6 #electricity #CO2 #seeker #elements #climate #science
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Read More:
Climate change: Electrical industry's 'dirty secret' boosts warming
"Cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations. It is widely used across the industry, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires."

Green Energy Has a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Problem, but Solutions Are Near
"To put that in perspective, one kilogram of SF6 adds the carbon equivalent of 24 people flying round trips from New York to London, as the BBC reported. For the most part, SF6 is well contained, but leaks are hard to notice, and in 2017, leaks in the European Union were equivalent to putting 1.3 million more cars on the road, as the BBC reported."

SF6 Worries – The Most Potent and Persistent Greenhouse Gas
"Today, SF6 has been listed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 23,900 times greater than that of CO2 over a 100 year period."

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[dodiswatchbobobo]

“Renewable energy might be worse for the environment.”

**Anti-Vax type movement spontaneously generates**

“But actually we have it under control so it’s cool no worries.”

**The damage has been done**

[letsgoballistic]

Anyone else immediately thinking of Adam Savage saying "it's scientific" after inhaling sulfur hexafluoride?

[jalapeno]

I don't know why he is saying that this is only linked with renewable energy sources. This would happen with traditional sources too.

[chopbird]

Doesn't look like this has anything to do with renewables. just the power grid, which will expand with or with out more renewable energy. Really bad title guys

[meghnadoshi]

YouTube: there are 6 comments

Me: can I see them all?

YouTube: no only 3

[Lord_Sunday]

So... it’s not a renewables issue? Seems like a bit of a click bait title ngl.

[lucasliam]

Hey guys, I wanted to warn y’all about dihydrogen monoxide, it’s used in large amounts in freaking everything and is a huge part in acid rain

[SlightyLessEvolved]

Given the content of the video, the title is very misleading, and serves to provide ammunition to those who are resisting the switch to renewable energy. Are the clicks really worth it, Seeker?

[u]

Sounds like an excellent argument for decentralized power grids

[prasadkadam]

Gas companies loved the clickbait.
Until the half of video.

[suvi]

When you do clickbait like this it only adds fuel to the garbage fire that is climate science denialism.
edit: the new title is at least better

[electronresonator]

maybe you want to put this title on your next video, "how fossil fuel can help to reduce global warming"

[captindo]

The title to this video plays into certain conspiracy theories, I suggest ya re-write it. Don't need to spread misinformation.

[Rajansippy]

You have to use the same amount of SF6 regardless of it is renewable or conventional electrical source. right!

[TripAMD]

The title isn't clickbait, its true. There's a lot of things about renewable energy that's not quite as "green" as yall might hope.

[orchirion]

Fixing the world is never easy, eh? 😂

[cromwellcruz]

SF6 emissions isn't intentionally released; CO2 (the billions of tons of it) is

[jokuvaan]

Some things not mentioned in the video:
- SF6 is a great insulator in especially wind turbines(solar plants don't really use it as they have no electric motors), even better than vacuum. Using it reduces the size and therefore cost of the machine which is why companies don't want to get rid of it as there isn't really as good alternative for it.
- It's much heavier than air so collecting it from machines that are put out of commission isn't really that hard.
-There are regulations at least in EU that the amount of SF6 has to be monitored in case of leaks and the gas has to be collected from out of commision machines to be reused.

[ryanbrown]

My 1st year engineering class used SF6 and Helium to sing the high and low parts of Bohemian Rhapsody. Fun times

[BrianHG.Volume.Fitness]

I don't get it, whether our expanding demands on electricity comes from renewable or fossil fuel, the breaker/switching requirements are still there and we would still be using the sulfur hexafluoride in either case? Also, why would it leak, because if it does, are there teams of technicians continuously refilling the stuff or replacing the switches non-stop. Wouldn't it be cheaper then to use the non-SF6 alternatives.