Gas Insulated Switchgear Market Size & Share 2026-2035

Gas Insulated Switchgear Market Size

The global gas insulated switchgear market was valued at USD 26.1 billion in 2025, underpinned by sustained capital investment in grid modernization, the accelerating connection of utility-scale renewables, and a structural shift in urban substation design toward compact, sealed switchgear architectures.^{[1]International Energy Agency, www.iea.org} The market is projected to reach USD 55.8 billion by 2035, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% over the 2026-2035 forecast period, according to the latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

The demand profile is structural rather than cyclical: aging transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure in mature economies, the buildout of high-voltage connections for offshore wind and solar, and the surge in electricity consumption from AI-linked data centers and industrial electrification are all generating procurement pipelines that extend well beyond near-term utility capex cycles. At the product level, the regulatory-driven transition from SF₆-insulated equipment to eco-efficient alternatives is simultaneously compressing existing product lifecycles and elevating average selling prices across medium- and high-voltage categories.

Three structural trends are reshaping the market over the 2026-2035 forecast horizon: the regulatory-mandated transition to SF₆-free insulation, the concentrated urban deployment of compact GIS substations, and the systematic integration of digital monitoring into both new and retrofitted installations. Each trend operates on a distinct timeline, is anchored by named commercial deployments, and carries a measurable contribution to the overall 7.6% CAGR.

Shift Toward SF₆-Free and Eco-Efficient Gas Insulated Switchgear

The transition away from sulfur hexafluoride insulation is the most consequential structural shift in GIS product development in a generation. EU Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which entered into force in March 2024, prohibits SF₆ in MV switchgear up to 24 kV from January 1, 2026, extending phase-out timelines to 52 kV by 2030 and 52-145 kV by 2028. This regulatory cascade is compressing product development cycles industry-wide and simultaneously elevating average selling prices across affected voltage categories.

SF₆-free deployments have moved decisively beyond demonstration projects into series production at extra-high voltage levels. In May 2025, Hitachi Energy delivered the world's first SF₆-free 550 kV GIS to the State Grid Corporation of China, utilizing its EconiQ technology which reduces CO₂-equivalent emissions from insulating gas by 99% compared with conventional SF₆ equipment. This deployment establishes a commercial benchmark at the highest transmission voltage currently in service globally.

In our H2 2025 survey of 210 utility procurement executives across 16 countries, 68% had already revised their medium-voltage switchgear specifications to exclude SF₆ ahead of mandatory deadlines, compared to just 29% in early 2023. The data indicates that regulatory timelines, rather than lifecycle economics alone, are the primary accelerant of specification change at the enterprise level. ABB committed approximately USD 200 million to European manufacturing capacity expansion, with the majority directed at SF₆-free switchgear production lines across Italy, Germany, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria, and Poland. This trend is estimated to contribute 30% of the market's overall CAGR expansion through 2035.

Rising Deployment of GIS in Urban and Space-Constrained Substations

Urban grid operators face a structural tension: electricity demand in metropolitan areas is accelerating, from EV charging infrastructure, building electrification, and data center co-location demand, while available land for substation expansion is shrinking. GIS substations address this through a footprint advantage of 60-70% over comparable AIS configurations, enabling installations within the built environment where overhead lines and large transformer yards are infeasible.^{[5]International Electrotechnical Commission, www.iec.ch}

A concrete deployment is Denton Municipal Electric's (DME) Hickory GIS Substation in Denton, Texas, energized in March 2025. The project replaced a 1960s-era 69 kV AIS facility with a 138/13.2 kV GIS installation on a 2.1-acre footprint, approximately 30% of the 7-acre area required for an equivalent AIS site. The facility enabled full conversion of Denton's 69 kV loop to 138 kV, deferred a separate planned substation until 2034, and generated an estimated USD 17.4 million in avoided capital expenditure. This trend carries a 25% impact weighting on the overall market CAGR.

The underlying driver extends beyond footprint economics. Urban substation projects must satisfy increasingly stringent noise ordinances, visual impact regulations, and community engagement requirements, all of which favor the enclosed, low-profile architecture of GIS over open-air AIS configurations. As metropolitan utility planners adopt integrated land-use frameworks, GIS is becoming the default specification for city-center rebuild projects in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Increasing Integration of Digital Monitoring and Smart Grid Features in GIS

Modern GIS installations increasingly incorporate IEC 61850-compliant communication interfaces, partial discharge sensors, gas density monitors, and SF₆ pressure telemetry, all feeding into substation automation systems or cloud-based asset management platforms.^{[6]T&D World, www.tdworld.com} The second-order effect is a transition from time-based to condition-based maintenance, which extends asset life and measurably reduces outage frequency.

NamPower commissioned Africa's first fully digital substation, the Sekelduin 132/66/33 kV switching station near Swakopmund, Namibia, in September 2025, deploying an IEC 61850 process bus as the primary protection backbone with end-to-end digital trip signaling at a total project investment of approximately USD 22.6 million. The deployment illustrates how digital GIS architecture is advancing from high-income utility systems into emerging markets where grid reliability requirements are rising rapidly.

Integration of digital twins and remote switching capability is becoming a standard procurement criterion for new GIS installations in utility-grade projects across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure digital substation platform and ABB's UniGear Digital represent the leading productized implementations at the MV level. This trend is estimated to contribute 20% of the market's overall CAGR, with the strongest adoption acceleration expected in the 2026-2030 window as utilities scale condition-based maintenance programs across their installed GIS base.

Gas Insulated Switchgear Market Analysis

By Capacity

≤ 38 kV

The ≤ 38 kV segment is the largest capacity tier, accounting for 33.28% of GIS revenue, approximately USD 9.4 billion, in 2025, and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.2% through 2035. Growth is anchored in medium-voltage distribution network upgrades, urban substation rebuilds, and sustained demand from data center campuses requiring reliable medium-voltage feeds. The EU's SF₆ ban from January 2026 for equipment up to 24 kV is accelerating product replacement cycles, particularly across Germany, the UK, and France, where utility procurement programs are already underway.

Siemens Energy's NXPLUS C 40.5 kV GIS and ABB's SafeRing/SafePlus Air 24 kV secondary GIS are among the most actively deployed platforms in this voltage class. Platform selection is increasingly driven by SF₆-free certification status, IEC 61850 compatibility, and supplier lead-time performance, the last of which has extended to 18-24 months across the MV market due to concentrated demand from European utilities executing pre-2026 compliance procurement.

> 38 kV to ≤ 72 kV

The 38-72 kV segment held a 20.48% of gas insulated switchgear market share in 2025, equivalent to approximately USD 5.8 billion, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7.7%. This tier sits at the sub-transmission boundary, serving industrial park feeders, railway traction substations, and renewable energy collector stations. GIS is preferred over AIS for coastal, high-humidity, and space-constrained environments at these voltages.

Hitachi Energy's EconiQ 72.5 kV Live Tank Circuit Breakers, deployed as part of the ElectraNet South Australia SF₆-free program in early 2026, exemplify the product evolution at this level. Demand from offshore wind collection infrastructure and EV rapid-charging trunk substations is expected to be particularly active over the 2026-2030 window, as national grid operators commission new sub-transmission capacity at the interface between high-voltage transmission and urban distribution networks.

> 72 kV to ≤ 150 kV

This segment represented 20.53% of 2025 of gas insulated switchgear market revenue, approximately USD 5.8 billion, and is forecast at a CAGR of 7.3% through 2035. It covers primary transmission connections at the interface between bulk and sub-bulk transmission grids, including connections for large renewable installations, city intake substations, and high-load industrial users. EU Regulation (EU) 2024/573 extends the SF₆ phase-out to 52-145 kV switchgear from January 2028, adding a policy-driven replacement wave to this segment.

GE Vernova's 380 kV Kühmoos GIS project for TransnetBW in Germany, contracted July 2025, delivering 15 bays of compact GIS technology to double capacity within a smaller footprint while replacing existing AIS, illustrates the scale of transmission upgrade projects in this voltage class. National Grid's Didcot substation upgrade in the UK, extending the existing 400 kV AIS with a new 132 kV indoor GIS facility using Hitachi Energy's EconiQ technology, is similarly representative of the large-scale refurbishment pipeline active in this segment.

> 150 kV

The > 150 kV segment accounted for 25.71% of 2025 revenues, approximately USD 7.3 billion, and is projected at a CAGR of 7.1%. This tier covers the highest-voltage transmission backbone at 220 kV, 400-420 kV, and 550 kV. While its CAGR is the lowest across capacity segments, absolute value growth over the forecast period is substantial, given the high per-unit contract values in this voltage class.

The most advanced product developments are concentrated here: Hitachi Energy's delivery of the world's first SF₆-free 550 kV GIS to SGCC (May 2025), and GE Vernova's 420 kV g3 T155g system specified for Europe's largest AI campus in France, a 1.4 GW facility, agreement signed January 2026. Transmission system operators in Norway, the UK, and Japan represent the most active procurement markets in this category over the near-term forecast horizon.

By Voltage Level

Medium Voltage

The medium voltage (MV) segment led the GIS market in 2025 with a 54% share, approximately USD 15.3 billion, reflecting the density of distribution network investment globally. Growth within this segment is concentrated in the 6-24 kV range, where the EU's January 2026 SF₆ phase-out creates an immediate replacement imperative across European utilities. Outside Europe, emerging-market grid expansion, including India's urban distribution upgrades and GCC smart grid programs, is driving first-installation demand.

Platforms such as ABB's UniGear Digital and Schneider Electric's SF₆-free ring main units are representative of the productization trend at this voltage level. In our Q1 2026 research covering 75 distribution system operators across 14 countries, 71% identified regulatory compliance as the primary driver behind their 2026-2028 MV switchgear procurement plans, ahead of cost reduction and reliability improvement. The MV segment contributes approximately 35.12% of the total market CAGR expansion.

High Voltage

The high voltage (HV) segment held a 46% of gas insulated switchgear market share in 2025, approximately USD 13 billion, and is the faster-growing tier, contributing approximately 64.88% of the total CAGR expansion through 2035. Project activity is concentrated in the 72.5-550 kV range, driven by offshore wind grid connections, cross-border interconnection upgrades, and compact HV substations for ports, industrial clusters, and renewable energy zones.

London's Power Tunnels 2 project, incorporating Hitachi Energy's EconiQ 132 kV and 400 kV SF₆-free GIS at the Bengeworth Road substation as a UK first, illustrates the category's evolution toward zero-emission architectures in urban transmission infrastructure. IEA projections confirm that HV transmission investment must accelerate significantly through the 2020s to accommodate variable renewable integration at scale. The HV segment is expected to maintain its faster growth differential relative to MV through the full forecast period.

By Region

North America Gas Insulated Switchgear Market

North America contributed 18.45% of GIS revenue in 2025, approximately USD 5.2 billion, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% through 2035. The US is the dominant market: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act collectively allocated over USD 65 billion for grid modernization, transmission expansion, and resilience upgrades, with GIS procurement embedded across multiple utility rate cases and project authorizations.

Denton Municipal Electric's Hickory GIS Substation in Texas, a 138/13.2 kV installation energized in March 2025 on a 2.1-acre footprint, deferring a separate substation until 2034 and saving approximately USD 17.4 million in avoided capital expenditure, illustrates the urban rebuild dynamic driving US GIS adoption. Canada contributes through GIS deployments in hydroelectric transmission corridors and northern substations, where sealed architectures outperform AIS in reliability and maintenance cost under extreme climate conditions.

Europe Gas Insulated Switchgear Market

Europe accounted for 28.29% of global GIS revenues in 2025, approximately USD 8.0 billion, and leads all regions at a CAGR of 8.9%, driven by EU Regulation (EU) 2024/573's SF₆ phase-out timeline and substantial renewable transmission investment. Germany is the most active procurement market: GE Vernova was awarded the TransnetBW Kühmoos contract in July 2025, a new 380 kV GIS facility delivering 15 bays of compact technology to double capacity within a smaller footprint.

In the UK, the London Power Tunnels 2 project at Bengeworth Road delivered the country's first fully SF₆-free substation, incorporating Hitachi Energy's EconiQ 132 kV and 400 kV GIS. SPIE commenced ground preparation for three SF₆-free GIS substations in Offenbach, Germany for grid operator ENO, with construction commencing September 2026. France, Germany, and the UK collectively account for the majority of European GIS procurement under current national energy plans.

Asia Pacific Gas Insulated Switchgear Market

Asia Pacific is the largest regional market, accounting for 30.02% of global GIS revenue in 2025, approximately USD 8.5 billion, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% through 2035. China is the dominant national market: in May 2025, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) accepted delivery of the world's first SF₆-free 550 kV GIS from Hitachi Energy, a milestone that signals China's commitment to decarbonizing its backbone transmission network in support of its 2060 carbon-neutrality objective.

India represents the fastest-growing national market within the region, driven by the National Electricity Plan's mandate to add approximately 62,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines by 2026-27 and the rapid proliferation of GIS in urban metro rail and large renewable interconnection projects. Japanese equipment manufacturers, including Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, and Toshiba, are prioritizing SF₆-free architectures: in March 2026, Chubu Electric Power Grid placed an order for the world's first 550 kV GIS where all components, including breakers and busbars, are entirely SF₆-free.

Gas Insulated Switchgear Market Share

The GIS industry maintains a moderately concentrated competitive structure, with the top five players, Hitachi Energy, Siemens Energy, ABB, Schneider Electric, and GE Vernova, collectively holding approximately 40% of 2025 revenue. Siemens Energy leads with an estimated 14% share, a position anchored in its broad voltage portfolio spanning MV distribution through EHV 1,100 kV applications, early SF₆-free commercialization, and a global service network sustaining long-cycle relationships with major utilities.

Hitachi Energy occupies the second position and is widely regarded as the technology leader in the SF₆-free transition at extra-high voltage levels. Its EconiQ portfolio, covering 72.5 kV through 550 kV in SF₆-free configurations, achieved a series of commercial firsts in 2025 and 2026, reinforcing its competitive positioning on sustainability credentials and elevating its reference list with tier-1 TSOs across four continents.

Supply chain leads interviewed across seven leading European and North American utilities in Q3 2025 indicated that 55% were actively considering shifting long-term frame agreements toward suppliers with certified SF₆-free products across all voltage classes, up from roughly 18% two years prior. The data indicates that sustainability credentials are evolving into a threshold criterion in enterprise procurement, not merely a qualitative scoring factor in tender evaluation.

ABB holds the third position, backed by a broad MV GIS portfolio and its USD 200 million European manufacturing commitment targeting SF₆-free production capacity across six countries. GE Vernova is the most aggressive competitor in linking GIS deployment to the data center and AI infrastructure market. Its January 2026 agreement to supply a 420 kV SF₆-free GIS system for Europe's largest AI campus in France, Campus AI, a joint venture of Bpifrance, MGX, Mistral AI, and NVIDIA targeting 1.4 GW total capacity, positions the company at the convergence of two of the fastest-growing demand vectors.

Schneider Electric leads in digital integration within the MV secondary GIS segment, where its EcoStruxure digital substation platform provides integrated monitoring, protection, and SCADA connectivity. The remaining 60% of the market is fragmented among regional specialists, state-owned manufacturers, and mid-tier OEMs active in specific geographies or voltage segments. M&A activity over the 2023-2025 period has been directional toward digital substation and monitoring software capabilities, with ABB and Siemens Energy among the most active acquirers in this area.

Gas Insulated Switchgear Market Companies

Major players operating in the gas insulated switchgear industry are: ABB, Bharat Heavy Electricals, CG Power and Industrial Solutions, CHINT Group, Eaton, Fuji Electric, GE Vernova, G&W Electric, HD Hyundai Electric, HICO America, Hitachi Energy, Hyosung Heavy Industries, LS Electric, Lucy Group, Mitsubishi Electric, Ormazabal, Schneider Electric, Siemens Energy, Skema, and Toshiba.

ABB is a market leader in medium-voltage GIS, with its SafeRing and SafePlus Air 24 kV SF₆-free platforms deployed at scale across European utilities including E.ON in Germany. Its USD 200 million European manufacturing investment, directed at Dalmine, Italy and five additional sites in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Norway, and Poland, aims to expand SF₆-free switchgear production and shorten lead times that have extended to 18-24 months across the MV market. ABB is also scaling production of gas-insulated switchgear, vacuum interrupters, and protection relays at facilities outside Italy, targeting both utility and industrial segment demand.

Siemens Energy commands the largest global share at approximately 14%, supported by the NXPLUS C series (up to 145 kV), clean-air MV GIS platforms, and a service footprint spanning over 30 countries. In August 2024, Siemens AG unveiled next-generation GIS featuring clean-air insulation technology, fully eliminating SF₆ in alignment with EU F-Gas phase-out timelines. The company also delivered the first SF₆-free GIS project in Saudi Arabia in July 2025 through collaboration with ELSEWEDY Electric PSP under contract with the Saudi Electricity Company, a regional first for eco-efficient T&D infrastructure in the Gulf.

Hitachi Energy anchors its competitive position in the EconiQ portfolio, spanning SF₆-free GIS, gas-insulated lines (GIL), live tank circuit breakers, and dead tank circuit breakers across 72.5 kV to 550 kV. The series of commercial firsts achieved in 2025-2026, SGCC 550 kV delivery, Statnett Norway 420 kV deployment, ElectraNet Australia 145 kV installation, establishes the company as the technology benchmark in high-voltage decarbonization globally.

GE Vernova leverages its g3 T155g SF₆-free platform across the 245-420 kV range and has moved early into data center and AI campus grid interface demand, as evidenced by the January 2026 Campus AI agreement. Schneider Electric focuses on MV GIS and digital integration, with EcoStruxure architecture delivering predictive maintenance and SCADA connectivity in secondary distribution. Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba maintain strong positions in Japan and are expanding into Southeast Asian and South Asian markets, backed by seismic resilience certifications critical for high-risk geographies.

CHINT Group and CG Power and Industrial Solutions compete effectively in cost-sensitive markets across Asia and the Middle East, offering lower-cost GIS configurations at distribution voltages. HD Hyundai Electric and Hyosung Heavy Industries are active in large HV GIS projects in South Korea, North America, and emerging markets. LS Electric, headquartered in South Korea, provides MV and HV GIS solutions with a growing presence in Southeast Asian utility projects. HICO America serves the North American market with transformer and switchgear solutions, targeting utility and industrial segments. G&W Electric specializes in medium-voltage switchgear and cable accessories, with a broad product portfolio serving distribution utilities across North America and international markets.

Ormazabal serves European MV markets with SF₆-free ring main units and primary distribution GIS, including its sbp.zero24 natural air-insulated switchgear deployed at the Geldern wind farm in Germany. Lucy Group, Skema, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Eaton, and Fuji Electric round out the competitive field across regional markets, specialty applications, and specific voltage segments.

Gas Insulated Switchgear Industry News

• Mar 2026: Hitachi Energy is awarded a contract by ElectraNet, South Australia's primary transmission network service provider, to deploy SF₆-free EconiQ 145 kV and 72.5 kV Live Tank Circuit Breakers, the first deployment of this technology by a major Australian transmission utility, providing a scalable blueprint for national SF₆-free transition aligned with Australia's 2050 net-zero targets.
• Jan 2026: GE Vernova signs an agreement to supply a 420 kV SF₆-free g3 GIS system for Campus AI's 1.4 GW facility in Seine-et-Marne, France, Europe's largest AI campus, a joint venture of Bpifrance, MGX, Mistral AI, and NVIDIA, with delivery of the T155g platform expected in 2027.
• May 2025: Hitachi Energy delivers the world's first SF₆-free 550 kV GIS to the State Grid Corporation of China, using EconiQ technology that reduces CO₂-equivalent emissions from insulating gas by 99% versus conventional SF₆ equipment.
• 2025: ABB commits USD 200 million to expand medium-voltage manufacturing capacity across six European countries, with the majority directed at SF₆-free switchgear and grid automation production lines, targeting persistent industry-wide lead-time pressures in the MV switchgear market.
• Jul 2025: Siemens Energy, in collaboration with ELSEWEDY Electric PSP, delivers the first SF₆-free GIS project in Saudi Arabia under contract with the Saudi Electricity Company, a regional milestone for eco-efficient transmission technology in the Gulf.
• Aug 2024: Siemens AG unveils next-generation gas-insulated switchgear featuring clean-air insulation technology that fully eliminates SF₆, aligning its product roadmap with EU F-Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 ahead of MV and HV phase-out timelines taking effect from 2026.

Market Concentration Score

The gas insulated switchgear market scores 6 out of 10 on the market concentration scale, reflecting a moderately concentrated structure in which the top five players, Siemens Energy (14%), Hitachi Energy, ABB, Schneider Electric, and GE Vernova, collectively account for approximately 40% of 2025 global revenue, while the remaining 60% is distributed across a fragmented field of regional specialists, state-owned manufacturers, and mid-tier OEMs active across specific voltage segments and geographies.

The gas insulated switchgear market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of volume (‘000 Units) and revenue (USD Million) from 2022 to 2035, for the following segments:

Click here to Buy Section of this Report

Market, By Capacity

• ≤ 38 kV
• > 38 kV to ≤ 72 kV
• > 72 kV to ≤ 150 kV
• > 150 kV

Market, By Voltage Level

• Medium Voltage
  • Primary Distribution
  • Secondary Distribution
• High Voltage

Market, By Application

• Transmission & Distribution
• Manufacturing & Processing
• Infrastructure & Transportation
• Power Generation
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico

• Europe
  • UK
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Spain
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Turkey
  • South Africa
  • Egypt
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina