Voluntary SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership: Recent Achievements and Planned Activities Volha Roshchanka 14 November, 2018

About the Partnership Formed in 1999 between EPA and 48 Charter Partners Designed to cost-effectively reduce SF6 emissions from electrical transmission operations Currently 90 Partner utilities representing approximately 50% of total U.S. grid transmission miles Total 2017 nameplate capacity = 10,651,469 lbs

Partnership Accomplishments Between 1999 and 2017: 75% decrease in SF6 emissions of Partners 86% decrease in emissions rate (emissions/nameplate capacity) Cumulative reductions of 7.2 million pounds of SF6 (compared to holding 1999 levels constant) Equivalent to removing 15.9 million passenger cars off the roads for one year

2018 Activities In 2017/18 focused on updating technical materials Released a report “Overview of SF6 Emissions Sources and Reduction Options in Electric Power Systems” Working in collaboration with utilities, service providers, equipment manufacturers, and others to finalize case studies Responding to informational requests

2018 Accomplishment: Overview Report Examines SF6 emissions in the lifecycle process of switchgear. Based on 2016 GHGRP reported data, on average: Manufacturing: 12% of total industry emissions Shipping: unknown, understood to be minimal Installation + Operation/Servicing: 76% Storage: unknown, understood to be minimal Retiring, disposal, recycling: 12% Reduction approaches are synthesized based on: Presentations, reports, information shared with the Partnership over the years Case studies shared with us by Partners in discussion of the draft report Reviewed by over a dozen Partner companies and stakeholders

2018 Accomplishment: Overview Report Recommended SF6 reduction options: Establish a lifecycle approach for SF6 management through company policies, protocols, and SOPs. Establish procedures for gas inventory, accounting, and tracking. Ensure good management of SF6 acquisitions and gas inventory. Train employees annually in SF6 handling and in using the necessary equipment. Recycle SF6 gas at equipment servicing or disposal. Implement leak detection and repair strategies. Upgrade equipment to reduce SF6 use and leaks. Decommission equipment properly. For more information, please see Overview of SF6 Emissions Sources and Reduction Options in Electric Power Systems. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. August 2018. EPA Publication No. EPA 430-R-18-004. See EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/f-gas-partnership-programs/overview-sf6-emissions-sourcesand-reduction-options-electric-power

Planned Activities (2018-2019) Continue to focus on updating technical information Have started working on case studies in best practices Webinar(s): An efficient way to reach out to more members Any feedback on topics of interest? 2019: twenty years since the Partnership was launched Looking into opportunities to host/co-host a Partnership event

Proposed Topics for Technical Program Events Topics for webinars and/or other technical materials: Options for reducing losses of SF6 and emission sources Overview of SF6 accounting: approaches and tools Leak detection for SF6: equipment and company programs Leak measurement Handling of SF6 Recycling of SF6 Leak repair and equipment refurbishment Guest speaker from GHGRP: SF6 reporting in e-GGRT Employee education/training programs Disposal of hermetically sealed-pressure equipment Options for small companies/users of SF6 Partner suggestions and input are welcome!

Thank you! SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems https://www.epa.gov/f-gas-partnership-programs/electric-power-systems-partnership Get involved – contact for opportunities to collaborate! Volha Roshchanka roshchanka.volha@epa.gov 202-343-9160