Nexans to provide superconducting cables for urban electric grid system in Chicago, North America

Nexans will design and produce a medium voltage high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable for AMSC (American Superconductor), including terminations and a splice, as part of its Resilient Electric Grid Project in Chicago.

Superconducting Medium Voltage CableFollowing the successful completion of this qualification cable, the project plan envisions the connection of substations in downtown Chicago by HTS cables in order to improve resiliency of the electrical grid against extreme weather or other catastrophic events. This project is part of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Resilient Electric Grid Program.

All necessary cable tests will be performed in the Nexans’ facility in Hannover, Germany, which is specially equipped to perform tests on superconducting systems for power grids.

Nexans has completed similar projects in the past, including AmpaCity which involved the delivery and installation of a 1km long medium voltage HTS cable to the city of Essen, Germany. This superconducting system in Essen, successfully operating for nearly two years, illustrates the ability to deliver on urban and city centre projects, which can be difficult due to a lack of space, and concentrated, high levels of power demand. In Chicago, through providing an initial testing cable, Nexans will further prove the value of superconducting cables in urban areas, with plans to expand superconducting applications across North America.

Frank Schmidt, Head of the Superconductivity Business Unit at Nexans said, “This project for Chicago underlines Nexans’ ability to offer solutions for complex urban power transmission challenges. After our success with AmpaCity in Europe, where HTS cables have proven that they are market-ready, Nexans is well placed to expand superconducting activity to serve city-based projects in the European and North American market.”