Nuventura, a Berlin-based startup specialising in SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear, has joined Lucy Electric following the parent company Lucy Group’s acquisition of all its shares.
The combined offering will strengthen the position of both companies in supporting the energy transition. Nuventura states that, as the EU F-gas regulation bans SF₆ in new medium-voltage switchgear up to 24 kV starting in 2026 and plans to extend this restriction to higher voltages by 2030, the demand for proven, compliant alternatives is increasing across Europe and beyond.
Manjunath Ramesh, managing director and CTO of Nuventura, said, “The switchgear market is undergoing the most fundamental technology shift for decades. Becoming part of Lucy Electric marks the next chapter in our growth and will enable us to scale up and offer a broader range of high-quality, environmentally friendly solutions to suit a host of industry applications across the globe.”
Founded in 2017, Nuventura specialises in the development of environmentally-friendly medium voltage (MV) gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), a key hardware component found throughout electrical grids and energy infrastructure. Its patented technology replaces Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), the world’s most potent greenhouse gas, with dry air, while preserving GIS’s traditional strengths, such as compact physical dimensions.
The company introduced the world’s first 36 kV dry-air Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), followed by a 24 kV option. Nuventura asserts this allows utilities and industrial users to adopt environmentally friendly technology without sacrificing performance, footprint, or reliability.
According to the company, its patented dry-air GIS technology is specifically designed for SF₆-free operation, including an optimised circuit breaker and three-position disconnector. The system offers the primary benefits of conventional GIS (compactness, safety, and low maintenance) while removing the environmental impact linked to fluorinated gases.
It works with both switchgear end-users (utilities, EPCs, industry players, project developers, etc.) and manufacturers (OEMs, panel builders), aiming to accelerate and facilitate the energy sector’s transition away from SF6. In doing so, Nuventura assists companies in reducing their carbon footprint and achieving compliance with upcoming international regulations concerning SF6 use in switchgear.
In September 2023, Nuventura announced the completion of a €25 million Series A investment led by Mirova, through its impact private equity Mirova Environment Acceleration Capital fund.
Founded in 1812, Lucy Group is a global organisation dedicated to making the built environment sustainable. It operates through three divisions: Lucy Electric, Lucy Controls, and Lucy Real Estate.
The Group’s electric business units (Lucy Electric and Lucy Controls) provide switchgear, EV charging equipment, street lighting, smart city infrastructure, and electrical safety solutions to support resilient and sustainable networks. Its real estate business unit claims to support sustainable living through responsible property development and investment.
By joining Lucy Electric, Nuventura seeks to access a strong global footprint, established customer relationships, and industrial scale. This would enable quicker deployment of its technology across utilities, renewable energy projects, and industrial applications worldwide.
John Griffiths, Lucy Electric CEO, said, “I’m pleased to share that we’ve completed the acquisition of Nuventura GmbH in Germany, a highly innovative business specialising in SF₆-free switchgear for the electric energy sector. This enables market entry into the primary switchgear space and doing so with technology that directly supports the transition to cleaner, lower-carbon power networks.”
Lucy Group employs more than 2,000 people across its business units on six continents. It has manufacturing operations in the UK, the Middle East, India, Asia-Pacific, and South America, providing customers with a variety of standard and custom products, along with installation and maintenance services.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/04/berlin-based-nuventura-acquired-by-lucy-group-to-scale-sf%E2%82%86-free-switchgear-globally/
