A breakthrough in sustainable electrical design
Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced that its pioneering medium-voltage switchgear technology, AirSeT, has been awarded by the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders as the “Champion of the Scope 3 Downstream Solutions Challenge” in the Sustainable Design category.
This recognition highlights AirSeT’s transformative role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions in electrical distribution systems. By replacing sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 24,300 times higher than CO₂, with pure air and vacuum technology, AirSeT eliminates one of the key contributors to Scope 3 emissions in electrical infrastructures.
“The design of a product is often where the real impact begins,” noted Pim Valdre, Head of Climate & Nature Economy and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum. “Sustainable design offers extraordinary benefits, including cost reductions, improved safety, regulatory compliance, and lower emissions throughout the entire product lifecycle.”
Reducing emissions and increasing reliability
AirSeT completely eliminates SF₆, helping customers reduce regulatory risks, enhance worker safety, and lower long-term operational costs. Since its launch, AirSeT has helped prevent the release of 1.7 million tons of CO₂ equivalent as of June 2025, a figure verified by third-party auditors within the Schneider Sustainability Impact program.
The market-leading alternative to SF₆ gas
Since the 1950s, SF₆ has enabled the industry to downsize switchgear and improve safety, but at a significant environmental cost. AirSeT, the only immediately available pure air-based solution, is easy to operate, integrate, and resilient to evolving environmental regulations.
Maintaining the same footprint and operational procedures as conventional panels, AirSeT is a natively digital solution that enables smarter grids and integration into AI-based predictive maintenance programs. It is designed for environments such as data centers, industrial facilities, and infrastructure projects.
The AirSeT range was developed with circularity in mind, featuring upgraded electronic and mechanical components that deliver up to 10 times more operations. Spare parts and retrofit-ready features, like removable circuit breakers, extend asset life and simplify modernization.
Schneider Electric continues to lead in sustainable innovation. This recognition from the World Economic Forum reaffirms the company’s commitment to designing technologies that deliver environmental, economic, and social value.
Learn more about AirSeT by Schneider Electric on the official webpage.