ENERGY STORAGE
A strategic alliance between American Superconductor and GE Industrial Systems has received its first order for a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device. The order comes from Entergy Corp, which intends to deploy the system in Texas by early 2001.
The SMES system will support the grid for the momentary voltage drops that represent some 80 per cent of all US electric power disturbances, but which often cause considerable commercial disruption to manufacturers and digital service providers. The SMES system is housed in a trailer attached to a transmission grid transformer or at an industrial process site. Upon detecting a drop in voltage the SMES device injects precise quantities of power into the grid. The SMES units are estimated to cost around $5 million.