SuperNode, as part of the SCARLET project, has won funding from Horizon Europe for the development of its revolutionary superconducting cable technology.
The EU project SCARLET (Superconducting Cables for Sustainable Energy Transition) gathers a consortium of the main industrial superconducting cable developers in Europe. 15 partners from 7 countries have been awarded EU funding for a duration of 4 and a half years as part of Horizon Europe. They will, through a joint effort, look to forge a global leadership.
SuperNode CEO John Fitzgerald commented:
“SuperNode is delighted to have won EU funding for transformative superconducting cable technology. It is great to have the support of the European Commission for this innovative technology that can have a profound effect on addressing climate change. This is a very positive step forward for the superconducting industry and an optimistic sign of things to come for the energy sector.”
The proposal submission lists SuperNode as one of the three ‘main European industrial actors developing superconducting cables’ alongside NEXANS and ASG. The consortium is made up of these three main companies and a further 12 partners working in the space, including specialist companies and research and innovation actors. SCARLET marks a clear commitment from all of these partners and the European Commission to bring such a visionary technology to market.
Finbarr Coghlan, who led SuperNode’s engagement with the project said:
“SCARLET will contribute to the development of what will be a critical technology to the renewable energy transition. Superconducting cables are the perfect technology for the connection of remote renewable energy sources, particularly offshore wind, much of which is geographically trapped due to transmission distances. Superconducting cables transmit high capacities of power with zero electrical losses and at medium voltages. This reduces the amount of physical infrastructure required, with resulting benefits in physical footprints, costs and environmental impacts compared to conventional cable systems. Europe will not realise its climate goals without a new, more efficient transmission system like that enabled by superconducting cables.”
Superconductivity is a phenomenon occurring when specific materials are cooled to very low temperatures, allowing for the transmission of electricity without any resistive losses. The promise of superconducting cables lies in their high efficiency, compact size, and reduced environmental impact. The SCARLET project will make use of these advantages by developing cables that transfer very high powers in very small conductors. The goal is to bring the technology to the last qualification step before commercialisation.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101075602.
You can view HORIZON EU’s official press release about the SCARLET Project here.