Preparation of an international initiative to mitigate sulphur hexafluoride emissions in the power sector

SF6 is the strongest known greenhouse gas, but its emissions have so far received little attention in international climate protection. SF6 emissions mainly originate from gas-insulated switchgear in the electricity infrastructure. They threaten to rise sharply in the course of grid expansion, especially in developing and emerging economies. The project is therefore preparing an international initiative on SF6 in the electricity sector. The first step is to analyse the technology and financing options for reducing SF6 emissions. On this conceptual basis, the project organises country stakeholder workshops. The aim is to create suitable regulation, monitoring and incentive mechanisms, possibly based on carbon markets. Finally, the project will prepare to embed this initiative in the international institutional landscape.