State of the art of HTS technology for large power applications: current programs and future expectations

As utilities head into the competitive future, there will be increased pressure to take advantage of cost reducing technology. High temperature superconducting (HTS) power equipment now under development will provide significant advantages over conventional power equipment. Development efforts focus on both HTS wire development and power equipment development in areas such as underground cables, transformers, motors, generators and fault current limiters. Based on published information, this paper summarizes the advantages of HTS based equipment, the progress of various equipment and wire development efforts, predicts commercial availability of equipment and discusses product expectations in light of impending utility deregulation.