The attraction of superconducting cablesWhen replacing traditional cobber or aluminium conductors in high current systems with superconducting cables you can transfer large current ratings at low voltage.
This is due to the fact that the power loss in a superconductor – when cooled down to minus 170o C - is close to zero. In other words, you get more power through a superconducting cable than through a traditional cable. Instead of installing e.g. a 132 kV traditional cable you can – in general terms – make do with a 36kV superconducting cable with more power and less impedance.
A superconducting cable is therefore both an environmentally friendly and financially attractive solution in a number of situations where power at present has to be supplied at higher voltages.
