Germany’s LEW to explore potential of superconducting cables in its grid

German grid operator LEW Verteilnetz is partnering with superconducting cable systems developer SuperNode to identify potential pilot projects.

In particular, the companies intend to identify possible use cases for superconducting cable technology in LEW’s grid and explore options for testing forward-looking concepts in practice.

LEW provides electricity to one million customers in Bavaria, with more than 90% of its power from renewables, including 2GW of solar power from more than 90,000 individual distributed systems.

LEW has the ambition to triple its renewable generation to more than 7GW before 2030.

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“With the transformation of our energy system in full swing, it is even more important to find innovative and effective solutions,” says LEW’s Head of Asset Management, Marco Wagler.

“We are therefore very much looking forward to working with SuperNode to explore the potential for superconductors in our grid area.”

Superconductors are among the technologies termed ‘innovative grid technologies’ by industry organisation CurrENT, which has been championing them in Europe, or ‘grid enhancing technologies’ in the US.

In its recent review of these technologies, CurrENT estimated that superconductors could increase the capacity of a line by up to 1,000%.

SuperNode has been advancing the superconductor technology with a focus on developing more efficient cable systems to enable higher-level, bulk power transfer and novel implementation scenarios and in particular advancing novel material solutions with cryogenic capabilities.

SuperNode CEO John Fitzgerald added his delight at the company entering this cooperation agreement.

“LEW is a very proactive system operator, determined to explore innovative technology solutions, such as superconducting cable technology, to prepare for its future acceleration of renewable energy.”