World's First High Temperature Superconductor Power Transmission Cable

World’s first high temperature superconductor (HTS) power transmission cable system in a commercial power grid. The 138,000 volt (138 kV) system, which consists of three individual HTS power cable phases running in parallel, was energized on April 22, 2008 and is operating successfully in LIPA’s Holbrook transmission right of way. A ceremony is being held today to commemorate the completion of the first phase and kick off the second phase of the project.
“Long Island Power Authority has a strong interest in the development of superconductor technologies and is the first utility in the world to commission an HTS power transmission cable system,” said LIPA President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Law. “We view superconductor power cables as an important option in our technology portfolio that will help us further enhance the reliability of our grid as we meet our customers’ increasing demands for electric power.”

The HTS cable system installed in LIPA’s power grid contains hair-thin, ribbon-shaped HTS wires that conduct 150 times the electricity of similar sized copper wires. This power density advantage enables transmission-voltage HTS cables to utilize far less wire and yet conduct up to five times more power – in a smaller right of way – than traditional copper-based cables. When operated at full capacity, the HTS cable system is capable of transmitting up to 574 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power 300,000 homes.


Source: http://www.azom.com/News.asp?NewsID=12710

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