The new F35g 170 kV GIS fills the 170 kV position in GE Vernova’s SF₆-free transmission switchgear lineup, adding a compact option for projects where space, grid reliability and fluorinated-gas reduction are all design considerations.
Key takeaways
- GE Vernova launched its F35g 170 kV SF₆-free gas-insulated switchgear on August 26, 2026, at CIGRE Paris 2026.
- The company says the product completes its SF₆-free transmission GIS voltage range from 72.5 kV through 420 kV.
- GE Vernova describes the F35g as digital-native, with integrated monitoring and digital capabilities intended to support equipment-condition visibility.
- The manufacturer says the GIS is designed to meet IEC and IEEE requirements, is manufactured in Europe and is available to order.
- Project teams should obtain project-specific drawings, ratings, test evidence, auxiliary-power requirements and interoperability details before specifying the equipment.
A new SF₆-free option at 170 kV
GE Vernova has launched the F35g, a 170 kV gas-insulated switchgear platform that the company says operates without sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆). The announcement was made in Paris on August 26 during the CIGRE Paris Session, a power-system industry event running from August 23 through August 28, 2026. ([gevernova.com](https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/ge-vernova-marks-10-years-sf6-free-innovation-launch-new-170-kv-gas-insulated))
The product is aimed at transmission-grid applications. GIS packages place primary switching and protection equipment in sealed, gas-insulated enclosures, an approach commonly selected where a conventional air-insulated substation would require more space. That can make GIS relevant to urban substations, industrial interconnections, transport electrification projects and other sites with constrained real estate.
Where the F35g sits in the portfolio
According to GE Vernova, the 170 kV launch completes its SF₆-free GIS range across 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 170 kV, 245 kV and 420 kV. The company’s current GIS portfolio page likewise lists SF₆-free GIS and gas-insulated line equipment from 72.5 kV to 420 kV, with the F35g listed at 170 kV. ([gevernova.com](https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/ge-vernova-marks-10-years-sf6-free-innovation-launch-new-170-kv-gas-insulated))
That positioning matters for utilities seeking to standardize a lower-emissions GIS approach across multiple voltage classes. A 170 kV offering may also be particularly pertinent in markets where that nominal class is used for subtransmission or transmission networks, and where project planners need a compact switchgear format without relying on SF₆ as the insulating medium.
Digital features are part of the product claim
GE Vernova describes the F35g 170 kV as digital-native and says it integrates monitoring and digital capabilities intended to improve operators’ visibility into equipment condition and performance. The manufacturer also says the product is designed to meet IEC and IEEE requirements, supporting deployment across markets using either standards family. ([gevernova.com](https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/ge-vernova-marks-10-years-sf6-free-innovation-launch-new-170-kv-gas-insulated))
For owners and integrators, that announcement establishes direction rather than a complete integration specification. Condition-monitoring value will depend on the sensors supplied, data points made available, communications architecture, cybersecurity responsibilities and how the equipment connects with station control, protection and asset-management systems. Those details should be requested as part of the tender package.
What specifiers should validate before selection
The launch release does not publish a detailed technical datasheet for the new 170 kV model. Procurement teams should therefore verify rated continuous current, short-circuit duty, insulation and impulse withstand levels, switching duties, operating temperature range, seismic qualification, enclosure dimensions, bay configurations, gas-handling procedures and maintenance requirements against the project’s actual design basis.
It is also important to distinguish a product being designed to IEC and IEEE requirements from evidence of compliance for a specified configuration. Engineers should request the applicable standards list, routine- and type-test documentation, protection and control interfaces, digital protocol support, factory acceptance-test scope, site commissioning support and guaranteed delivery schedule. These items can materially affect design coordination, construction sequencing and lifecycle support.
Availability and manufacturing
GE Vernova says the F35g 170 kV GIS will be manufactured in Europe and became available for order after its CIGRE Paris 2026 introduction. The company places the unit within its GRiDEA portfolio, which groups technologies intended to reduce the carbon impact of electrical equipment. ([gevernova.com](https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/ge-vernova-marks-10-years-sf6-free-innovation-launch-new-170-kv-gas-insulated))
For infrastructure buyers, availability to order is an initial commercial milestone, not a substitute for confirming factory capacity and project delivery timing. Early engagement with the manufacturer is advisable where the switchgear will anchor a critical-path substation build, particularly if the project requires customized bays, nonstandard protection-and-control integration or extensive owner witnessing during factory testing.