LS Electric to complete halogen-free switch across all insulation parts this year

Tightening environmental regulations are emerging as a new trade barrier in global power markets, prompting South Korean manufacturers to accelerate their shift to greener technologies. As Europe and other advanced economies push harder for non-toxic, low-carbon products, domestic companies are moving preemptively to adopt eco-friendly materials in key components and secure early footholds in those markets.

LS Electric has developed its own halogen-free insulation material suited for power equipment and has already applied it to select products, including molded-case circuit breakers and magnetic contactors, industry sources said Thursday. The company plans to complete the technical transition this year so that all insulation parts across its entire power equipment lineup can be produced with halogen-free materials on a phased basis.

Halogen-free materials are eco-friendly substances that eliminate halogen compounds — such as chlorine and bromine — which release toxic gases harmful to humans when products are discarded or catch fire. Advanced markets, particularly in Europe, are increasingly strict about halogen-free compliance when certifying power equipment. LS Electric said it is building its capabilities early — from material sourcing through to commercialization — so it can deliver fully compliant products the moment customers demand them.

LS Electric is also pursuing green transitions in large-scale power infrastructure. The company completed a switch to eco-friendly vegetable-oil transformers in August last year, and this year it is pushing to convert its gas-insulated switchgear to systems using g3 gas, an alternative to the greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). It is also replacing aging equipment with high-efficiency units in line with scheduled maintenance cycles.

However, the new eco-friendly materials and alternative gases carry higher unit costs, raising manufacturing expenses. LS Electric's approach is to supply halogen-free and eco-friendly gas-based products for orders from Europe, where regulations are strict, and from companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance standards, while continuing to offer conventional, proven materials in regions where regulatory requirements are lower and price competitiveness matters more.

The green shift is spreading across the industry. Hyosung Heavy Industries holds technology for manufacturing transformers with vegetable insulating oil. In April, it became the first company in South Korea to develop and begin mass production of a 145kV circuit breaker using dry air instead of SF6 — a gas with a global warming potential more than 20,000 times that of carbon dioxide. Hyosung Heavy Industries plans to extend its SF6-free circuit breaker lineup to higher-voltage applications and sharpen its push into the next-generation power equipment market.

HD Hyundai Electric is also expanding its transformer lineup using natural and synthetic ester-based vegetable insulating oils in place of conventional mineral oil. Mineral oil, commonly used in large transformers, can contaminate soil if it leaks and poses fire risks due to its low flash point. Vegetable insulating oil, by contrast, biodegrades naturally if spilled, reducing environmental risk, and offers superior fire safety. The company is also stepping up exports of eco-friendly 170kV gas-insulated switchgear that eliminates SF6 entirely.