The application of large-scale new power system and the improvement of industrial power demand lead to the frequent occurrence of short-circuit current exceeding the standard in the power system, and the high-speed opening and breaking type circuit breaker can quickly solve the short-circuit current. Electromagnetic release type hydraulic actuator has fast switching, high output kinetic energy, and combines the characteristics of both repulsive and hydraulic mechanisms. By introducing the basic principle of the repulsive force driven control valve, the design target of the electromagnetic release hydraulic actuator is proposed, and then the functional requirements, parameter model and structural optimisation of the electromagnetic release device and the hydraulic system are studied; based on this, a prototype of the 252 kV high-speed circuit breaker adapted to the electromagnetic release actuator is developed, and finally the test verification is carried out. The test shows that the full opening time of the 252 kV high-speed circuit breaker adapted to the electromagnetic release hydraulic actuator is only 25 ms, which is 50% shorter than that of the traditional circuit breaker, and it verifies the validity of the design method of the electromagnetic release hydraulic actuator and the feasibility of adapting this new type of actuator to the fast tripping of the circuit breaker.