Introduction to progress and promise of superconductivity for energy storage in the electric power sector

Around the world, many groups conduct research, development and demonstration (RD and D) to make storage an economic option for the electric power sector. The progress and prospects for the application of superconductivity, with emphasis on high-temperature superconductivity, to the electric power sector has been the topic of an IEA Implementing Agreement, begun in 1990. The present Task members are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the US. As a result of the Implementing Agreement, work has been done by the Operating Agent with the full participation of all the member countries. This work has facilitated the exchange of informtion among experts in all countries and has documented relevant assessments. Further, this work has reviewed the status of SMES and is now updating same, as well as investigating the progress on and prospects for flywheels with superconducting bearings. The Operating Agent and Task members find a substantially different set of opportunities for and alternatives to storage than was the case before the 1987 discovery of high-temperature superconductivity. Beside the need to level generation, there is also the need to level the load on transmission lines, increase transmission stability, and increase power quality. These needs could be addressed by high power storage that could be brought in and out of the grid in fractions of a second. Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage and flywheels with superconducting bearings are devices that deserve continued RD and D because they promise to be the needed storage devices