Manufacturer: GE Vernova
Original publication date: 16 July 2026
Topic: 110 kV GIS, SF₆ alternatives and urban grid modernization
GE Vernova has received two contracts from Stromnetz Berlin for the design, supply and installation of new 110 kV gas-insulated substations in Wittenau and Neukölln. Both grid hubs are planned around GE Vernova’s g³ insulation technology, providing an SF₆-free alternative for compact high-voltage installations in a dense urban network.
Project scope
The two substations will become part of Berlin’s high-voltage supply network and feed downstream substations serving residential, commercial and public infrastructure. GE Vernova states that its g³ insulating medium reduces global-warming potential by approximately 99 percent compared with SF₆ while retaining the compact arrangement required for urban GIS applications.
The execution schedules are long-term infrastructure programs. According to the manufacturer, the Wittenau project is expected to run from June 2026 to March 2031, while the Neukölln project is expected to continue until January 2032. Financial details were not disclosed.
Technical and project highlights
- Two new 110 kV gas-insulated substations for Stromnetz Berlin.
- Locations: Wittenau and Neukölln.
- SF₆-free g³ insulation technology from GE Vernova’s GRiDEA portfolio.
- Approximately 99 percent lower global-warming potential for the insulating medium compared with SF₆, according to GE Vernova.
- Design, delivery and installation are included in the announced contracts.
Why it matters
Urban substations are difficult projects: space is restricted, outages must be carefully coordinated and long equipment lifetimes make today’s insulation choice consequential for decades. The Berlin contracts show that SF₆-free high-voltage GIS is moving beyond demonstrations into large public-network programs. They will also provide operating experience that utilities and specifiers can use when assessing environmental performance, maintenance processes, gas handling and lifecycle costs for future GIS projects.
Source note: This is an independent editorial summary prepared by Learn Switchgear. It is not an official GE Vernova article and contains no sponsored content. Facts and schedules are attributed to the manufacturer’s release. Read the original GE Vernova press release.