The planned HTS power cable tests are required by electric utilities and will be performed at Nexans' test facility in Hannover, Germany, which is specially equipped to perform tests on superconducting systems for power grids.
Utilizing AMSC's HTS wire, Nexans will design and fabricate the HTS power cable, including the power cable terminations and a cable splice, for qualification and performance evaluation.
The qualification of the HTS power cable will represent an important step toward the construction phase of AMSC's REG program. Massachusetts-based AMSC asserted that its superconductor wire is able to conduct approximately 200 times the electrical current of copper wire of similar dimensions.
The REG system provides the dual benefit of increasing grid reliability while simultaneously increasing grid capacity by accessing existing but previously underutilized substation assets.
"Nexans is a valued partner and leading provider of utility power cables, that is committed to building advanced power transmission and distribution networks utilizing HTS superconductor technology,” said AMSC chief executive Daniel McGahn.
For renewable energy generators, superconducting cable promises to sharply reduce transmission losses both within cities and in transit from distant generating assets. The US reportedly loses at least 5% of all electricity generated due to transmission inefficiencies. That costs billions of dollars each year.
