ABB and Enedis Strengthen Partnership to Accelerate France’s Grid Decarbonization and Modernization

ABB and Enedis Strengthen Partnership to Accelerate France’s Grid Decarbonization and Modernization

(IN BRIEF) ABB and Enedis have signed a new five-year framework agreement, extendable to eight years, to modernize and decarbonize France’s electricity distribution network. Building on their 2017 collaboration to phase out SF6 gas from medium-voltage switchgear, the renewed partnership will scale ABB’s SF6-free Unisec V500 solution across Enedis’ grid. The agreement focuses on environmental performance, eco-design, and a circular economy approach, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to sustainability and grid resilience as Europe transitions to low-carbon energy systems.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZURICH, 22-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — ABB has renewed its long-term partnership with Enedis, France’s largest electricity distribution system operator (DSO), through a new five-year framework agreement aimed at advancing the modernization and decarbonization of the French power grid. The contract, which may be extended to eight years, underscores both companies’ shared mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance grid resilience in line with France’s energy transition goals.

The collaboration builds on a successful partnership established in 2017, when Enedis became one of the first European DSOs to commit to phasing out sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) — a greenhouse gas over 24,000 times more potent than CO₂ — from its medium-voltage switchgear. Working together, ABB and Enedis pioneered the development of SF6-free switchgear technology, leading to the installation of the Unisec V500, an air-insulated system integrating vacuum circuit breakers, in 2021. This technology has since been validated and scaled across Enedis’ distribution network as part of a wider strategy to eliminate SF6-based equipment.

“This renewed agreement with ABB reflects our shared ambition to reduce environmental impact and support the decarbonization of the grid while modernizing and expanding capacity,” said Hervé Champenois, Chief Technical Officer of Enedis. “By working with partners that share our values, we can make the French electricity system more resilient for the future.”

Under the new agreement, ABB will continue supplying its field-proven SF6-free switchgear solutions while supporting Enedis in deploying these sustainable technologies across France. The two companies will also collaborate on eco-design improvements, product lifecycle management, and a take-back program for retired SF6-based systems to promote a circular economy within the grid infrastructure sector.

“This agreement highlights the strong collaboration between Enedis and ABB over the past several years,” said Andrea Estrada Hein, Executive Vice President, Switchgear Business Line, Distribution Solutions at ABB. “As electrification accelerates and demand on the grid grows, partnerships like this will be essential to ensure Europe’s energy transition is both reliable and sustainable.”

The renewed partnership aligns with European Union F-gas regulations, which will ban the use of SF6 in new medium-voltage switchgear up to 24 kV from 2026 and between 24–52 kV from 2030, with only recycled gas permitted for servicing after 2035. Through this collaboration, Enedis and ABB reaffirm their leadership in sustainable grid innovation—helping France meet its climate commitments while supporting an increasingly electrified and decarbonized energy future.

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com

Enedis is a public service company that manages France’s electricity distribution network, employing 41,000 people. Serving 38.8 million customers, it develops, operates and modernises 1.4 million kilometres of low- and medium-voltage networks (230 and 20,000 volts), as well as managing the associated data. Enedis connects customers to the grid, provides 24/7 outage response, carries out electricity metering (for both production and consumption) and performs all related technical operations. Acting on behalf of local authorities, which own the distribution networks, Enedis is independent from energy suppliers, who are responsible for selling and managing electricity supply contracts. A mission-driven company since June 2023, Enedis’ purpose is to “work towards an innovative, efficient, and socially responsible public electricity distribution service, connecting society to the collective challenge of a sustainable world.”

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SOURCE: ABB