Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Electric Power Systems Partnership
  3. Mitigation Opportunities
  4. SF6 Alternatives

Alternatives Benefits Calculator

About the SF6 Alternatives Benefits Calculator

The SF6 Alternatives Benefits Calculator is designed to help transmission and distribution utilities evaluate the total lifecycle cost and environmental impacts of different circuit breaker technologies. The tool provides stakeholders a resource to further evaluate alternatives to replacing SF6 circuit breakers (Gas Circuit Breakers (GCBs)) with Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCBs) at electrical power systems. 

Alternatives to Traditional Gas Circuit Breakers

Two new high voltage circuit breaker technologies can be used as alternatives to traditional SF6 breakers. Read more about alternatives in Moving Toward SF6-Free High Voltage Circuit Breakers: Considerations for Adopting Vacuum Breaker and Fluorinated Gas Alternative Technologies.

EPA involved original equipment manufacturers and Partner utilities for technical review of the tool during development.

A user creates a scenario by inputting values into ten different assumption cells that determine the economic and greenhouse gas impacts of two scenarios. From there, the tool is designed to track the initial, annual, inspection, and decommissioning costs to account for all expenses over the lifetime of a GCB and VCB breaker system. After all inputs are completed, the results tab calculates the emissions savings if the user opts for the VCB system as well as a cost comparison between the VCB system and GCB system (or GCB system with tank heater if applicable).

Data inputs required for analysis:

  • Initial unit and installation costs for both GCB and VCB
  • Annual labor and materials costs
  • Frequency of routine and periodic inspections

Results: 

  • Lifetime cost savings: discounted and undiscounted total and average annual costs for all breakers evaluated 
  • Greenhouse gas emission savings

Download the Tool

Download the  SF6 Alternatives Benefits Calculator (xlsx) (142.83 KB, September 2023)

Electric Power Systems Partnership

  • Electric Power Systems Partnership
    • About the Partnership
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Basics
  • Mitigation Opportunities
    • Best Practices
    • SF6 Alternatives
      • Alternatives Benefits Calculator
  • Additional Resources
    • Regulatory Information
    • Research & Case Studies
  • Accomplishments
  • Connect with the EPS Partnership
    • Events & Webinars
      • 2025 Workshop
    • Service Provider Directory
    • EPS Industry Collaborators
Contact Us About the Electric Power Systems Partnership
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 14, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.