The gas, known as SF6, is the most potent greenhouse gas (GHG) on earth. SF6 has 22,800 times CO2’s warming potential over a 100-year period, and it stays in the atmosphere for 3,200 years without degrading. SF6 is primarily used as an insulator in electrical equipment (70% of emissions come from the sector), entering the atmosphere when the equipment leaks or needs to be repaired. This presents a catch-22 for climate mitigation: the more electrical grids are expanded to accommodate renewable energy, the more SF6 will be emitted down the line. The EPA predicts that global SF6 emissions from electric power systems will increase 34% between 2015 and 2030.
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