Superconducting cables as a new option in network planning

Superconducting cables have proved their technical feasibility in prototype applications and are available for further and more widespread use in electrical networks. As this new technology still lacks experience, network planners are eager to come to know technical and economic applications. In view of an increasing cost pressure, it will be crucial that superconducting cables prove their profitability over conventional cables apart from their technological feasibility. In this paper, distribution networks for metropolitan supply areas with conventional and superconducting cables will be presented and compared to one another with respect to costs and reliability. The results show that the use of superconducting cables is possible as well from the technical as from the economic point of view. The reliability of networks with superconducting cables is determined by the time needed to repair the cable and the availability of the cooling system.