Korea Electric Power Corporation, LS Cable & System and AMSC have announced that the world’s longest distribution-voltage superconductor cable system (of unspecified length, but probably less than 1 km) has been energised at the I’cheon substation located near the city of Seoul.
Centred on AMSC’s Amperium superconductor wire and installed in Korea Electric Power Company’s (KEPCO) electricity grid, the 22.9 kV AC cable system is capable of carrying approximately 50 MWe. This is the first cable in the world utilising second generation (2G) superconductor wire to be energised in the grid and is currently the longest distribution voltage superconductor power cable in operation.
“The energising of the I’cheon substation has great historical significance and demonstrates that Korean power electric technology is at a world-class level,” said Yup Heo, executive vice president of KEPCO’s construction division. “Based on the technology and the know-how from this installation, KEPCO will continue to develop transmission voltage superconductor power cables and is securing the world’s top superconductor technology and market position.”
“Already over-taxed power grids around the world are being challenged to meet rising electricity demands associated with today’s growing and increasingly networked economy. Because superconductor technology provides a reliable, cost-effective solution, we see it as a tremendous growth opportunity,” said LS Cable & System president Jong-ho Son. “Beginning with helping to fulfill Kepco’s vision and expanding into a global business, we plan to capitalise on superconductor technology to meet the growing power demands of Korea and the world.”
In October of 2010, LS Cable & System and AMSC entered into the world’s first large-scale commercial superconductor wire supply agreement. AMSC recently made its initial wire shipment to LS Cable & System under this new agreement to allow it to begin qualification work for Korea’s next superconductor cable projects. KEPCO is now planning a 1 kilometer, 154kV AC cable system and a 500 metre, 80kV DC cable system in the grid on South Korea’s Jeju Island.
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