Korea Rail Network Authority Joins Efforts to Reduce National Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on May 29 that it had signed the "SF6 Decomposition Technology Business Agreement" with Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Western Power, and Gyeonggi Province to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. The signing took place at the completion ceremony for the "SF6 Decomposition Center" held in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.

SF6 gas is mainly used in railway electrical equipment such as switchgear due to its excellent insulating properties and non-flammability. Switchgear refers to devices that house circuit breakers and other equipment inside metal tanks insulated with SF6 gas, allowing for rapid power cutoff to protect the electrical grid in the event of an accident.

However, when SF6 gas is disposed of, it is classified as a representative greenhouse gas that requires environmentally friendly treatment.

Yoonyang Kim, Head of SE Convergence Headquarters at Korea Rail Network Authority (first from the left), is taking a commemorative photo on the 29th after signing the "SF6 Technology Business Agreement" with Kyungil Eom, Vice President of Technology and Safety at Korea Western Power, Ilju Moon, Head of Technology Innovation Headquarters at Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Hangyu Jeong, Director of Advanced Mobility Industry Division at Gyeonggi Province. Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

In response, the Korea Rail Network Authority, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Korea Western Power signed a "Joint Agreement for the Utilization of SF6 Decomposition and Detoxification Technology" in March 2023. Based on this agreement, they constructed the SF6 Gas Decomposition Center on the site of the former Gunpo Substation, which is an idle railway property. The organizations have also supported research related to SF6 gas decomposition and shared information over time.

Building on these efforts, the agreement signed on this day includes mutual cooperation among participating organizations in the following areas: sharing research data for the operation of the decomposition center, establishing systems for the dissemination of the technology, providing used SF6 and cooperating on reducing site usage fees for the decomposition center, and developing follow-up technologies and expanding applications in the railway sector.

Based on this agreement, the Korea Rail Network Authority expects to process 383 tons of SF6 gas generated from decommissioned railway facilities at the decomposition center and to save approximately 10.3 billion KRW in disposal costs.

Yoonyang Kim, Head of SE Convergence Headquarters at the Korea Rail Network Authority, stated, "The Korea Rail Network Authority will continue to work closely with related organizations to identify effective joint projects for national greenhouse gas reduction and to expand eco-friendly railway infrastructure for a sustainable future."