Chicago superconductor project will link substations with high-capacity wires

Energy News Network: An agreement last month to install a high-capacity superconductor system in Chicago is a serious signal that the futuristic smart grid tech could be commercially viable in Illinois.

The state’s largest utility, ComEd, announced a deal with American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) to connect some of its substations with wires made from a material known as Amperium. The wires conduct far more power than traditional aluminum or copper lines without losing any energy from resistance or heat loss. That extreme efficiency is expected to boost resiliency on the grid, which can also make it easier to integrate renewables.

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