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LIPA and American Superconductor Bring the
Largest Superconducting Transmission Cable to Long Island
Hauppauge, NY, August 2: As in the midst of a scorching heat wave, and
part of its commitment to ensure economical, safe and reliable electricity to
its customers, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
held a Groundbreaking Ceremony today in Holbrook to announce the construction
phase of the world's largest and highest-voltage superconductor electric
transmission cable system. The 138,000 volt (138kV) cable system, nearly
one-half mile in length, will be the world's first superconductor cable
installed in a live grid at transmission voltages and will carry more power than
all previous high temperature superconductor (HTS) cable demonstrations
combined.
The project is being undertaken by a government-industry partnership. Other
partners participating in the ceremony included the United States Department of
Energy, American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:
AMSC), Nexans and Air Liquide.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the operation of a high voltage
superconducting cable within an electric utility transmission system. The cable
will be installed by early 2007 in LIPA's Holbrook transmission right of way
running north/south for about 2,000 feet. Both ends will be connected to LIPA's
existing transmission system.
“LIPA is very pleased to be a pioneer in this remarkable technology,” said LIPA
Chairman Richard M. Kessel. “Superconductivity can provide an invaluable tool to
assist LIPA in contributing to provide a high level of reliability to its
customers. During this heat wave, innovations like this make more sense than
ever.”
Superconducting cables can carry three to five times the power of conventional
cables. They also conduct electricity without resistance below a certain
temperature. Resistance is undesirable because it produces losses in the energy
flowing through the cable.
The main project objectives are twofold. The first objective is to identify the
key issues and concerns that need to be addressed to enable HTS cables to be
operated effectively in a power grid at transmission voltages. The second key
objective is to develop, design, produce and operate this HTS cable system.
“The year 2006 is clearly a turning point for HTS technology. With a wide
variety of commercial and demonstration projects underway, HTS wire has emerged
from the laboratory and is poised to become a major force in the world's
electric grids,” says Greg Yurek, chief executive officer, American
Superconductor, the prime contractor for the system. “Visionary utilities such
as LIPA see the distinct advantages HTS wire offers, and very soon so will their
residential and commercial customers. I offer my warmest congratulations to
Richard Kessel and everyone at LIPA on their significant achievement.”
LIPA, as host utility, is providing the site engineering and preparation as well
as guidance to the design and testing of the cable system. As prime contractor,
American Superconductor is providing project management, technical input and is
also the supplier of the HTS wire for the cable. Nexans is the cable and cable
termination supplier, providing the development engineering and qualification of
the cable, cable cryostat and terminations. Air Liquide is the cryogenics
partner, providing the refrigeration system modifications, system engineering
and installation support.
"At a time when power grids across the nation are being severely stressed,
superconductor technology is being examined by US utilities as a new tool to
increase capacity and reliability on their systems. This project is one of three
being co-funded by DOE that will demonstrate different designs and applications
of high-capacity, low-profile superconducting cable technology. The LIPA project
will be the first use of superconductors at electricity grid transmission level
voltages. We continue to view superconductivity as a powerful enabler of the
next-generation energy delivery system," said Kevin Kolevar, Director of the
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability at the US Department of
Energy.”
"As the worldwide leader in the cable industry, Nexans has been actively engaged
in research into superconductors over the past few years. From our
Superconductivity competence center's laboratories based in Germany to Long
Island's grounds, we have made huge progress, so today, we are delighted to be
part of this major project that will result in the world's first transmission
voltage superconducting power cable installation in a live grid. At a time when
world energy demand keeps increasing, growth opportunities for superconductor
cables are becoming bigger. Nexans is taking up this industrial and market
challenge to provide power transmission solutions of very high ratings utilizing
high temperature superconductors," said Gordon Thursfield, President, Nexans
North America.
“In the context of ever increasing needs for electricity and the crowding of
transmission grids, Air Liquide is proud to contribute to the development of new
technologies, such as the LIPA Superconductor Cable, that could lead to
significant energy gains, “ said Mike Smith, president, Air Liquide Advanced
Technologies U.S. LLC. “The proven reliability of Air Liquide's cryogenic
technologies used for cooling, as well as its leading expertise in the operation
and maintenance of such technologies are being mobilized to ensure the success
of this project. Positive results in this first worldwide installation could
lead the way to a greater control over energy consumption.”
With HTS cables gaining broader acceptance by power utilities worldwide, it has
become increasingly important to understand the issues surrounding the
integration of these cables into existing power grids. In addition to developing
a first-of-its-kind HTS cable at unprecedented length and voltage, this project
is developing the necessary tools to assure the reliable integration of this
technology into the grid. Once the cable system and integration tools are
developed, high-capacity superconductor cables will allow utilities to serve
much higher power loads than is possible with today's power cables in any given
voltage class. This power density advantage translates into easier permitting,
smaller rights of way and smaller substations.
The superconductor wire in HTS cables can carry more than 150 times the power of
a conventional copper wire of similar size. Thermally-independent, compact HTS
cables can be installed into existing rights of way, thus helping reduce the
cost and environmental impact of future grid upgrades. With much lower impedance
and resistance than conventional technology, superconducting cables can be
strategically placed in the electric grid to draw flow away from overtaxed
conventional cables or overhead lines, thereby relieving network congestion and
providing a more environmentally friendly power solution than copper-based
systems.
After an initial operational period and following performance and economic
reviews of the cable system, LIPA plans to retain the new superconductor cable
as a permanent part of its grid. LIPA and American Superconductor have also
discussed plans to install high capacity, low-environmental-impact HTS cables
elsewhere in the LIPA grid to address the growing electric power needs on Long
Island.
For more information about LIPA's Superconductor cable project, call (516)
222-7700 or visit our website at www.lipower.org , or visit American
Superconductor at
www.amsuper.com.
LIPA, a non-profit electric utility, owns the retail electric system on Long
Island and provides electric service to 1.1 million customers in Nassau and
Suffolk counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA does not own any
electric generation assets on Long Island and does not provide natural gas
service. More information about LIPA is available on the Internet at
www.lipower.org.
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