SuperconduCable Demonstration Projects

Significant Superconductor cable projects are underway or operational around the globe. The electric power cables  deliver significantly more power than conventional cables, helping reduce grid congestion as well as installation and operating costs – all with low environmental impact.  Recent listing of the projects:

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Superconductor power transmission cable project

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to serve as prime contractor for an HTS power transmission cable project in the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) transmission grid. The project is a Superconductivity Partnership Initiative (SPI) between the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and industry to develop the world's first transmission voltage HTS power cable.  »DOE LIPA Fact Sheet

Capable of powering 300,000 homes, the 2,000-foot transmission circuit in this first-of-a-kind project is located underground in an existing right of way in Holbrook, Long Island. With a capacity of 574 megawatts, the 138-kilovolt superconductor cable system is an integral part of the LIPA grid. The nearly half-mile power cable system is the world's first installation of a superconductor cable in a live grid at transmission voltages.

The world's first HTS power transmission cable system is pictured to the left. This system, which consists of three cables running in-parallel in a four-foot-wide underground right of way, is capable of carrying 574 megawatts of power. The three cables shown entering the ground can carry as much power as all of the overhead lines on the far left. (Photo courtesy of American Superconductor Corp.)

Along with its role as prime contractor, AMSC provided the HTS wire. Nexans developed and manufactured the cable, cryostat and terminations. Air Liquide provided refrigeration equipment and is overseeing operation of the cooling system for the cable. The host utility, LIPA, provided the site, civil work, controls and protection, transmission planning and the operation of the HTS cable system.

After an initial operational period, LIPA plans to retain the new superconductor cable as a permanent part of its grid following
performance and economic reviews of the cable system. LIPA and AMSC have also discussed plans to install high capacity, low environmental impact superconductcables elsewhere in the LIPA grid to address the growing electric power needs on Long Island. The groundbreaking for this project was held on August 2, 2006 (press release), the cable has been operating in the grid since April 22, 2008. (press release)

LIPA Groundbreaking participants in 2006 (left to right): Michael Smith (Air Liquide), Bruce Germano (LIPA), Gordon Thursfield (Nexans), Richard Kessel (LIPA), Greg Yurek (AMSC) and Debbie Haught (DOE)

Coming Soon! Secure Super Grids™ technology for New York City project with Consolidated Edison

AMSC and Con Edison have teamed with the Department of Homeland Security to protect New York City's power grid with surge suppressing superconductor cable technology. This new development was announced on May 21, 2007 and is a joint effort to develop and deploy a new system-level solution that utilizes high temperature superconductor (HTS) power cable technology in Con Edison’s grid in New York City. Click here for more information about this innovative new solution for the grid.

HTS Cable Manufacturers

AMSC is the leading manufacturer of HTS wire, however we do not manufacture the cables for these projects. The following are some of today's cable manufacturers.