Structure and cost scaling for intermediate size superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems

The Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) Engineering Test Model (ETM) was sized to be extrapolated to a full-scale utility system and only warm structural support was practical. If this constraint is removed, then smaller systems structurally reinforced with cold mass are more cost effective than supported with warm mass. Higher field is also more advantageous and thus the bore of a 20 MWh magnet is an order of magnitude smaller than an ETM. Both aluminum and stainless steel supports were considered and the weight of 1-100 MWh systems were determined. The cost of the SMES magnet scales as 0.5 power of stored energy. The cross over in stored energy where magnets supported by warm structures becomes cheaper was also determined.<>