Elgin Orchards pure-air switchgear project

Schneider Electric and Technoserve Medium Voltage (MV) have implemented RM AirSeT SF₆-free medium voltage (MV) switchgear at Elgin Orchards, one of South Africa’s leading fruit producers

Situated in Grabouw in the Western Cape, the project marks another step in the continued adoption of RM AirSeT and its pure-air switchgear technology in the South African marketplace.

“The RM AirSeT installation at Elgin Orchards delivers 100% elimination of SF₆, improved reliability, and cost savings of up to 20% over the system’s lifecycle,” said Brighton Mwarehwa, offer and marketing director for power systems at Schneider Electric.

“It’s more than equipment; it’s a step toward responsible growth and energy resilience”.

The installation of the RM AirSeT forms part of Elgin Orchard’s journey to establish sustainable and resilient operations.

The switchgear replaces an existing Schneider Electric RM6 unit which has been moved to a new cold storage plant – a move that underscores the fruit producer’s commitment to resource efficiency.

“At Elgin Orchards, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do,” said Neil Reid at Elgin Orchards.

“Togeher with Schneider Electric and Technoserve Medium Voltage we’ve made a change that aligns to reliable, safe and low-carbon energy”.

According to Schneider Electric, the RM AirSeT represents the ‘next generation’ of sustainable switchgear, using pure air insulation and vacuum technology instead of sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), a greenhouse gas (GHG) with 24,300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.

By removing SF₆ entirely, Elgin Orchards has achieved measurable carbon footprint reduction and eliminated associated regulatory risks, while ensuring uninterrupted operations for its cold chain and processing facilities.

“The RM AirSeT offers not just reliability but future-proof flexibility,” said Evans Coetzee, general manager at Technoserve MV.

“It’s compact, robust and digital-ready, providing Elgin Orchards with a durable and sustainable medium-voltage solution that’s simple to install and maintain. The swap from RM6 to RM AirSeT was seamless and completed in a single day, minimising downtime.”

Coetzee said the RM AirSeT delivers up to 10,000 switching cycles and offers integrated digital capabilities for real-time monitoring and diagnostics through Schneider’s Easergy T300 platform.

“This makes it ideally suited for hybrid energy systems, frequent operations and future smart grid integration,” he said.

“The Elgin Orchards project is a clear example of how sustainability and performance can coexist,” said Mwarehwa.

“By replacing SF₆ with pure air, we are helping our customers transition towards cleaner, more resilient energy systems without compromising reliability or safety.”

Mwarehwa added: “It demonstrates how innovation in electrical distribution can make a tangible impact on climate goals while supporting South Africa’s all-important agricultural sector.”

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