U.S. Department of Energy Provides Funding for Superconductor Smart Grid Projects
American Superconductor to Receive $12 Million Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Ongoing Superconductor Power Cable and Fault Current Limiter Projects
DEVENS,
Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American
Superconductor Corporation, a global energy technologies company, today
announced that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has provided more
than $12 million in funding to AMSC under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act to complete the following ongoing superconductor smart grid projects:
* AMSC
is receiving $4.8 million in additional funding to develop a three-phase 138
kilovolt (kV) fault current limiter (FCL) using the company’s 344
superconductors. This FCL will feature a proprietary Siemens-developed,
low-inductance coil technology that makes the FCL invisible to the grid until it
switches to a resistive state. AMSC is serving as project manager and wire
supplier. The team also includes Southern California Edison, Siemens AG, Nexans
and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In total, the DOE is providing nearly $8
million in funding for this project.
*
AMSC
is receiving $7.6 million in additional funding for the second phase of its
superconductor power cable project with Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). This
will be a transmission voltage (138kV) extension of the superconductor cable
system that was commissioned in LIPA’s grid in April 2008. The extension
utilizes AMSC’s second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS)
wire, branded as 344 superconductors. AMSC is serving as project manager and
wire supplier, Nexans is the cable manufacturer and Air Liquide Advanced
Technologies U.S. LLC is providing the cryogenics system. In total, the DOE is
providing more than $12 million for this project.
“The Long
Island Power Authority, the first utility in the world to commission an HTS
power transmission cable system, commends the Department of Energy for funding
Phase II of this critical project, which will allow us to expand the existing
transmission line demonstration project to connect between two major substations
on Long Island,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “Superconducting
cables are a key ingredient in advancing smart grid technology that will help us
fulfill our objective of continuing to provide safe, reliable, and efficient
service to our customers. This award is the next step in demonstrating the value
of superconductivity and we look forward to our continued work with American
Superconductor and DOE on this important project.”
AMSC’s awards
were part of a $47 million “smart grid demonstration” package announced
yesterday by the DOE. According to the DOE announcement, “The $47 million in
Recovery Act awards announced today will support existing projects that are
advancing demonstration-scale smart grid technologies which will play an
important role in modernizing the country’s electricity grid.” In addition to
the $12 million in funding for AMSC’s projects, an additional $8 million was
awarded to another superconductor fault current limiter project.
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“The Obama
Administration has placed a high priority on smart grid technologies that
enhance the efficiency and resiliency of our expanding power infrastructure,”
said Dan McGahn, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMSC
Superconductors. “This bodes well for the superconductor industry in general and
American Superconductor in particular. Our DOE-funded programs will enable us to
once again demonstrate the compelling power density and security advantages
afforded by superconductor power cables and fault current limiters. We expect
there will be a substantial global market opportunity for these smart grid
technologies in the next decade.”
About
American Superconductor
AMSC offers an
array of proprietary technologies and solutions spanning the electric power
infrastructure – from generation to delivery to end use. The company is a leader
in alternative
energy, providing proven, megawatt-scale wind turbine designs and electrical
control systems. The company also offers a host of Smart
Grid technologies for power grid operators that enhance the reliability,
efficiency and capacity of the grid, and seamlessly integrate renewable energy
sources into the power infrastructure. These include superconductor power cable
systems, grid-level surge protectors and power electronics-based voltage
stabilization systems. AMSC’s technologies are protected by a broad and deep
intellectual property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses
worldwide. More information is available at www.amsc.com.
July 21, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy Provides Funding for Superconductor Smart Grid Projects
American Superconductor to Receive $12 Million Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Ongoing Superconductor Power Cable and Fault Current Limiter Projects
DEVENS,
Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American
Superconductor Corporation, a global energy technologies company, today
announced that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has provided more
than $12 million in funding to AMSC under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act to complete the following ongoing superconductor smart grid projects:
* AMSC
is receiving $4.8 million in additional funding to develop a three-phase 138
kilovolt (kV) fault current limiter (FCL) using the company’s 344
superconductors. This FCL will feature a proprietary Siemens-developed,
low-inductance coil technology that makes the FCL invisible to the grid until it
switches to a resistive state. AMSC is serving as project manager and wire
supplier. The team also includes Southern California Edison, Siemens AG, Nexans
and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In total, the DOE is providing nearly $8
million in funding for this project.
*
AMSC
is receiving $7.6 million in additional funding for the second phase of its
superconductor power cable project with Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). This
will be a transmission voltage (138kV) extension of the superconductor cable
system that was commissioned in LIPA’s grid in April 2008. The extension
utilizes AMSC’s second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS)
wire, branded as 344 superconductors. AMSC is serving as project manager and
wire supplier, Nexans is the cable manufacturer and Air Liquide Advanced
Technologies U.S. LLC is providing the cryogenics system. In total, the DOE is
providing more than $12 million for this project.
“The Long
Island Power Authority, the first utility in the world to commission an HTS
power transmission cable system, commends the Department of Energy for funding
Phase II of this critical project, which will allow us to expand the existing
transmission line demonstration project to connect between two major substations
on Long Island,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “Superconducting
cables are a key ingredient in advancing smart grid technology that will help us
fulfill our objective of continuing to provide safe, reliable, and efficient
service to our customers. This award is the next step in demonstrating the value
of superconductivity and we look forward to our continued work with American
Superconductor and DOE on this important project.”
AMSC’s awards
were part of a $47 million “smart grid demonstration” package announced
yesterday by the DOE. According to the DOE announcement, “The $47 million in
Recovery Act awards announced today will support existing projects that are
advancing demonstration-scale smart grid technologies which will play an
important role in modernizing the country’s electricity grid.” In addition to
the $12 million in funding for AMSC’s projects, an additional $8 million was
awarded to another superconductor fault current limiter project.
“The Obama
Administration has placed a high priority on smart grid technologies that
enhance the efficiency and resiliency of our expanding power infrastructure,”
said Dan McGahn, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AMSC
Superconductors. “This bodes well for the superconductor industry in general and
American Superconductor in particular. Our DOE-funded programs will enable us to
once again demonstrate the compelling power density and security advantages
afforded by superconductor power cables and fault current limiters. We expect
there will be a substantial global market opportunity for these smart grid
technologies in the next decade.”
About
American Superconductor
AMSC offers an
array of proprietary technologies and solutions spanning the electric power
infrastructure – from generation to delivery to end use. The company is a leader
in alternative
energy, providing proven, megawatt-scale wind turbine designs and electrical
control systems. The company also offers a host of Smart
Grid technologies for power grid operators that enhance the reliability,
efficiency and capacity of the grid, and seamlessly integrate renewable energy
sources into the power infrastructure. These include superconductor power cable
systems, grid-level surge protectors and power electronics-based voltage
stabilization systems. AMSC’s technologies are protected by a broad and deep
intellectual property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses
worldwide. More information is available at www.amsc.com.