European project for a supraconducting energy distribution circuit

The European Superpoli project was set up to examine the use of superconductors in energy distribution, with particular emphasis on medium voltage, high current circuits covering short distances. This type of circuit is found at a number of points in the network, including the circuits immediately adjacent to generating stations. The use of superconducting circuits at this point has a number of advantages including the limitation of fault currents, and a considerable reduction in losses and civil engineering costs. A prototype 1 GVA 3-phase circuit is currently being designed following tests on a 20 kV / 2 kA demonstration system. Two types of superconductor are being considered. One robust and rapidly installed solution consists of rigid BiSrCaCuO (2212) tubes connected by flexible conductors, while the other is manufactured using a laser to deposit a YbaCuO film on a stainless steel substrate. The solution is likely to offer better performance in the long term.