“The world’s longest distribution-voltage superconductor cable system utilizing second generation (2G) superconductor wire was energized in Korea Electric Power Company’s (KEPCO) electricity grid in September 2011. The 22.9 kV alternating current (AC) cable uses a cable system from LS Cable & System, a cooling system from Air Liquide and HTS wire from AMSC. Photo courtesy of LS Cable & System.”

The cables are manufactured by the Korean cable company LS Cable has placed an order for a total of 300 mil superconductors with American Superconductor. It is the largest order on the superconductor for power cables ever made, and American Superconductor is talking about a breakthrough in technology.

The cables will be used in various projects for both DC and AC power. In addition to the HVDC installation at Jeju Island will be used for example in the project Tres Amigas will link together the U.S. grid.

Compared with conventional cables superconducting cables significantly greater capacity while losses are lower, a small amount of energy required, however, to keep the cooling system containing liquid nitrogen.

Superconducting power cables have been developed over a long time but the cost has been high. American Superconductor says it could cut the price by a new type of high-temperature superconductors not containing silver.

The company has also developed a new manufacturing process in which the superconductor is placed on a substrate in a process that linker the manufacture of photographic film.

Supra the leaders who now ordered by LS Cable will be delivered in 2012.