SuperNode is a new Irish company developing technology to enable the transportation of renewable energy from source to market and ultimately to connect markets in a way that enables full decarbonisation.
The challenge
To put this challenge into context our electricity systems were designed to deliver circa 20% of our energy needs from, in the main, centralised thermal generating stations, such as coal and gas plants, on a nationalistic basis. To decarbonise our economies, we will need to electrify industry, heat and transport. This will increase our electricity production requirements by circa 2.4 times today’s levels while at the same time requiring the closure of all carbon producing thermal generation. Further storage, efficiency, prosumer behaviour etc is factored into this projection.
The good news is that the costs of renewable generation technologies such as wind and solar have decreased significantly in recent times. The latest auction in France has seen offshore wind energy procured at a cost of just €4.4c/kWh.
The best renewable resources can be found at the peripheries of continental Europe, at a remove from demand centres and the reality is that the existing transmission infrastructure is not fit for purpose to accommodate them as required.
Initially this is a cost problem which we already see today in the North Sea where the cost of connecting renewable energy is increasing and can now represent as much an increase as €3.5c/kWh to the cost of renewable energy delivered for customers. Today, we are at about 10% of the level of renewable generation required to decarbonise our economies. As we progress further on the decarbonisation journey that we have committed to this becomes more of a capacity problem as the capacity of existing accessible transmission connection points is exhausted and significant, and difficult offshore/onshore build is required. This will result in delays to new renewables and constraints to overall renewable production. Eventually, as we move towards significant decarbonisation with more than 50% renewable energy share, stability and security of supply becomes the main challenge as we switch off the carbon-based thermal plants.
SuperNode’s vision
SuperNode is developing technology solutions that can help to address these challenges in a cost effective manner.
Existing superconducting materials combined with existing DC technology can significantly reduce the cost of connecting remote renewables and increase the quantum of renewables that can be connected economically. Superconductors have no electrical losses and can carry more electricity with a much smaller footprint than Cu or Al conventional electrical cables. This means they can be more cost effectively installed with less environmental impact. Best Paths estimates that a wayleave width of 1m would be required for a superconducting cable compared to a width of 10m for conventional cables of a comparable capacity. This is because of the high capacity transmission properties of HVDC superconductors.
Superconductors do need to be cooled with what is called a cryogen, again the technology for this exists today. For connecting GWs of renewables by means of DC the savings are estimated to be 30-40% compared to the cost of what is done/planned for today in the German and Dutch North Sea.
The same technology solution can also support the increased level of connectivity required, in the form of a supergrid, with DC technology enabling bulk power transfer between regions as required. The development of a Supergrid can complement and strengthen existing grid infrastructure as well as creating new capacity on the grid near areas of high demand. Such a pan European grid can enable the pooling of continental renewables resources and obviate the regional production that dogs the nationalistic approach being pursued to date by national TSOs.
SuperNode will work with existing technical companies to develop commercial superconductors for deployment in electricity transmission. This will require the development of robust and reliable cryogenic pumping/cooling solutions, an optimum cryostat for the superconductor and the associated IP.
SuperNode will design and develop prototypes and subsequent demonstration projects to raise the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the system. The technology will be used with partners to offer connectivity and licenced to third parties. The next generation of customers/applications will involve the building of the meshed DC grid needed to address the issue of lack of capacity on existing grids, and the stability with the variability of production The technology being developed will be licenced.
Ireland could lead the way
Ireland has the best offshore wind resources available anywhere in Europe, along with a relatively small domestic energy demand and limited transmission infrastructure with Europe. With the advent of cost reduction in renewable generation, the commercialisation of floating offshore wind, and the need for large quantities of renewable energy to address climate change. The introduction of high capacity transmission infrastructure can offer huge benefit to Ireland.
Ireland now has a twofold opportunity before us. Firstly, to turn our comparative advantage into a competitive advantage and to develop our considerable renewable energy resources for export. Secondly, to develop leadership for sustainable indigenous export industries in the developing the supply chain required to exploit the first opportunity.
The nascent industries of superconductor materials manufacturing, marine/terrestrial cryogenics, production of superconducting DC transmission systems have not got established bases for global production. Ireland can gain a first mover advantage in these areas. Furthermore, the more established supply chains associated with the offshore renewable energy industry will also generate significant opportunities for sustainable employment in coastal areas.