Superconductors offer game-changing potential to power transmission and grid connection for large-scale renewable energy, heard participants in a currENT hosted webinar on 7th of July 2022.
CurrENT is the trade association for innovative grid technologies in Europe, of which SuperNode is a founding member.
Leading experts from the superconductor industry presented their views alongside representatives from the European Commission, ENTSO-E and the research community. This was followed by a Q&A session moderated by currENT.
Below is a summary of the presentations with a full recording and the slides presented.
Eoin Hodge, Chief Engineer SuperNode:
- Outlined the changing dynamics and requirements of a renewables and thus weather-based energy system (huge power flows from renewables located at the peripheries far from demand centres).
- Outlined how upscaling current copper based technology is not efficient or cost effective and is capacity constrained. Showed that we need new innovative cable technology.
- Introduced superconductors and their advantages: efficiency (zero electrical losses), higher power density, lower voltages.
- All this means superconductors save on space, materials, cost and are more efficient for long range, bulk power transmission.
- Final point from Q&A: Challenged the prevalent mindset of today that HVDC technology will be able to meet the energy transmission needs of a future decarbonised system. Superconductors operate at medium voltage, hence, offer huge benefits and should form an integral part of the future energy system.
Mathias Noe, Professor at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology:
- Explained applications of superconductors in the power system such as fault current limiters.
- Superconductors are far more reliable and resilient than conventional cable technology.
- Final Point from Q&A: Innovation must be better incentivised. It should be more attractive and easier for new technologies to emerge and be given opportunities throughout the development process. He said: “Where is the advantage for the first movers, the pioneers? I don’t see this at the moment.”
Mike Ross, Managing Director, AMSC:
- Introduced superconductor case study: REG project, Chicago. This project shows the benefits superconductors already provide at the distribution level.
- This superconductor project saves on space and materials, has smaller footprint, rights of way, easier permitting, siting installation, and superior reliability.
Dag Willen, Principal R&D Engineer, NKT:
- Introduced case study on the SuperLink project in Munich. This project shows the real world viability of superconductors at transmission voltage levels 110kV, 500MVA.
- SuperLink will be the worlds longest high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable system.
Norela Constantinescu, Head of Section Innovation, ENTSO-E:
- Outlined how ‘Superconductivity has huge potential for development’ in the future energy system alongside HVDC, especially for the ‘offshore supergrid’.
- Announced that Superconductors would be named as a ‘Game-changing technology’ in the upcoming ENTSO-E report: ENTSO-E Vision: A power system for a carbon neutral Europe due in October 2022.
Mario Dionisio, Policy Officer DG Energy, European Commission:
- Outlined the need for a new approach to grid planning and development: “The business-as-usual grid planning and development cannot cope any longer with many aspects of the energy transition…need of a modern energy system
- Recognised the role superconductors can play in the future energy system.
- Discussed the range of EU funding for innovation but further recognised that more is required: “More R&D&I is needed to obtain solutions applicable and competitive for a modern efficient energy system.”
View all the slides presented here: Slide Deck – Superconductors for Power Transmission: Beyond the age of copper
You can watch a short video of the webinar highlights here:
Alternatively you can watch the webinar in full here: