ABB, American Superconductor and Electricité de France (EDF) have signed a $15 million, four year joint development deal to accelerate the development of high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire. As part of this programme, the two European companies will each contribute $5 million towards an American Superconductor development project.
In a related deal, ABB and EDF will manufacture a prototype 10 MVA transformer using HTS wire manufactured by the US company. The transformer, which is part of a programme to develop a commercial 30 MVA transformer, is expected to be tested on the EDF grid before the end of 2000. The 10 MVA transformer will handle 15 times more power than the first prototype, demonstrated in Switzerland in March 1997.
The annual global market for conventional power transformers with power ratings of more than 30 MVA is estimated to be around $3 billion. The new transformers are half the size and half the weight of conventional transformers, allowing substation capacity to be increased without additional space.