Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. has recently started the production of HT-CA DI-BSCCO high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire for the AmapaCity HTS cable project in Germany.
The AmapaCity HTS cable project is funded partly by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, and led by a German utility company RWE Deutschland, HTS cable manufacturer Nexans, and major research institution Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The cable used in the project is a 1 km long HTS cable with a rating of 40 MVA at 10 kV and will be installed in the downtown area of Essen, Germany. The use of an HTS medium-voltage cable in Essen is a world first for connecting two transformer substations.
Nexans is planning to complete the installation and commissioning of the HTS cable system in Essen in the end of 2013. The cable will then operate as part of the grid for at least two years and the respective experience gained. This project will not only serve as the basis for continued use of the HTS technology used in a specific grid area, but also create a strong foundation for the expansion of the technology.
Sumitomo Electric has recently started the production of approx. 80 km of HT-CA DI-BSCCO wires, planning to deliver them to Nexans by the beginning of 2013. Sumitomo Electric’s HT-CA DI-BSCCO wires are well received by the market and have already been used for many HTS cable projects in the world including the HTS cable projects in Albany, U.S. and Yokohama, Japan.
Sumitomo Electric has already established the mass production process of HT-CA DI-BSCCO wires. These wires are highly valued for their quick turn around and reliable delivery schedules.