SuperNode has responded to ESB’s Annual Innovation Public Consultation, highlighting the need for Ireland to proactively adopt transformative technologies such as superconducting cables to achieve its climate and energy goals.
Philip McCann, who led SuperNode’s response says, “We must have a clear vision of what the energy system in 2050 looks like, and how to get us there. Taking a long-term approach to planning our energy system would allow us to identify technology gaps and gain the experience and expertise to harness their full potential and reap the economic benefits of being first-mover.”
ESB’s current innovation strategy and portfolio approach is “excessively conservative, incremental in nature, and focused on the short-term”, according to SuperNode, which recommends that higher priority be placed on more forward-looking innovations that will better serve the transformed energy system of the future.
Urban electricity congestion in Dublin is identified by SuperNode as a key issue which could hinder the ability to construct new offshore wind generation. Grid limitations on land threaten to derail Ireland’s entire climate agenda. Superconducting cables to alleviate urban congestion is a tried and tested technology, that has been operating for years, for example in Essen, Germany and Chicago, USA. Superconducting electricity cables have a tiny footprint and can transfer extremely large amounts of power, making it ideal for the city environment.
“Dublin will need far more power in the future, as we replace fossil fuels with electricity in our cars, homes, offices and factories. Superconducting cables would increase the resilience, the reliability, and most importantly the capacity of Dublin to accept more transmitted power,” continues McCann.
The implementation of superconducting cables to solve Dublin’s congestion problems would offer the dual benefits of securing Dublin’s energy supply in the short term while developing experience, expertise and relationships in what could be a critical decarbonisation technology in the medium to long-term. If Ireland is to capitalise on our abundant offshore wind resources and become a renewable energy exporter, we are going to need new innovative grid technologies capable of transferring much higher capacities, up to 10GW.
SuperNode is a Dublin based company working on extending the scope and range of existing superconducting cable systems for urban congestion. This would enable superconducting cables capable of moving these levels of power over long distances, both onshore and offshore.
You can read SuperNode’s full consultation response to the ESB’s Annual Innovation Public Consultation here.
You can read the ESB’s Full Annual Innovation Public Consultation here: Innovation to Deliver the Electricity Network for a Clean Electric Future 2023.