Daikin to supply Hitachi Energy with SF6‑alternative gas C4‑FN, boosting Germany‑based production for greener high‑voltage grids
Executive summary: Daikin Industries and Hitachi Energy signed a memorandum of understanding for Daikin to supply the SF6‑alternative gas C4‑FN to Hitachi Energy for use in its EconiQ® SF6‑free high‑voltage switchgear, with production located in Germany. The deal supports the expansion of SF6‑free grid technology as utilities face tightening EU F‑gas regulations that aim to phase down SF6 to 10 % of 2014 levels by 2030, reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions from high‑voltage equipment.
Who is involved: Daikin Industries (Japan), Hitachi Energy (Switzerland/Global), with production facilities in Germany.
Likely next: Daikin will begin C4‑FN production for Hitachi Energy in early 2027; Hitachi Energy plans to roll out additional EconiQ® SF6‑free switchgear models by 2028; regulators will review alternative gases under the EU F‑gas framework.
On September 3 2026, Daikin Industries and Hitachi Energy signed a memorandum of understanding for Daikin to provide the specialty gas C4‑FN, a key component in Hitachi Energy’s SF6‑free EconiQ® switchgear lineup. The agreement supports Hitachi Energy’s effort to expand its eco‑friendly grid technology portfolio as utilities seek alternatives to sulfur hexafluoride under tightening EU F‑gas regulations. By localising C4‑FN production in Germany, the deal aims to shorten supply chains and meet rising demand for SF6‑free solutions in European transmission and distribution networks. The move reflects a broader industry shift toward low‑global‑warming‑potential gases in high‑voltage applications.
Timeline
- — Critical gas for sustainable high-voltage grids now made in Germany (PR Newswire)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Daikin to start C4‑FN production at its German facility Q1 2027 for Hitachi Energy supply.
- Hitachi Energy to launch a new 145 kV SF6‑free circuit breaker using C4‑FN by mid‑2028.
- EU F‑gas regulation to tighten SF6 allocation to 5 % of 2014 levels by 2027, increasing demand for alternatives.
- Daikin to expand C4‑FN capacity by 20 % in 2028 to meet growing European grid‑upgrade demand.
Sectors affected
- High‑voltage switchgear manufacturing
- SF6 gas market
- Renewable energy grid integration
Regulatory implications
- EU F‑gas Regulation (517/2014) phase‑down requires SF6 use to fall to 10 % of 2014 levels by 2030, driving demand for SF6‑free alternatives.
- German implementation of the EU F‑gas law mandates reporting and leakage checks for SF6‑containing equipment, encouraging adoption of C4‑FN‑based switchgear.
- Potential inclusion of C4‑FN in the EU’s list of approved low‑GWP gases for high‑voltage applications under the F‑gas framework.
Historical parallels
- Phase‑out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in HVAC under the Montreal Protocol (1987) prompted shift to HFCs and later to low‑GWP alternatives.
- Transition from SF6 to vacuum interrupters in medium‑voltage switchgear during the early 2000s reduced reliance on high‑GWP gases.
- Replace‑of PCB‑filled transformers with dry‑type and epoxy‑resin units in the 1990s to eliminate toxic insulating liquids.