Superconducting magnetic energy storage for power systems application

A survey of the technology for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is discussed. This technology is attractive in terms of its high efficiency and fast response, but the economic benefits are dubious. Research in the USA and Japan resulted in several conceptual designs for utility-scale SMES systems. Experiments on power system models proved that SMES systems offer other benefits in addition to energy storage. Economic evaluations showed that the SMES is competitive with pumped hydro, especially when the energy price increases. A power flow program was used to verify the application of a SMES plant to the Taiwan power system