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When chilled below a specific critical temperature, a form of wire known as a superconducting wire can conduct electric current without any resistance or energy loss. Superconducting wires permit the passage of electricity with great efficiency, in contrast to regular wires, which encounter resistance and produce heat during the transfer of electrical current.
Electrical cables consisting of superconductive material are known as superconducting cables. When cooled below their transition temperatures, they exhibit zero electrical resistance.
Superconducting cables are basically categorised into two types such as high-temperature superconducting cables, Medium Temperature Superconducting cables, and low-temperature superconducting cables.
Wires composed of high-critical-temperature superconductors are high-temperature superconductors. Wires composed of low-critical-temperature superconductors are low-temperature superconductors.
The key features of superconducting cable beyond copper or aluminium include higher maximum flow rates and zero power dissipation. Thus, almost every industry uses superconducting wires to boost energy efficiency.
All three temperature classes of superconducting wires have special qualities that make them an affordable option for boosting the energy effectiveness of the operation of electrical equipment.
Typically, superconducting materials like certain metal alloys or ceramic compounds are used to create superconducting wires. When exposed to strong magnetic fields or currents, they are made to keep their superconducting qualities. In most cases, the wires consist of a superconducting core that conducts the electrical current and is encased in a stabilizing layer that prevents the superconductor from degrading into a typical resistive state.
Many areas of science and technology have been significantly impacted by the invention of superconducting wire. For uses like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particle accelerators, and fusion studies, it has made it possible to create strong magnets. Due to their ability to transport energy over great distances with a small amount of loss, superconducting wires have also been used in the transmission of power.
By improving electrical grid efficiency and lowering energy waste, this has the potential to completely transform the energy sector. To reach higher critical temperatures, enhance performance, and increase the variety of useful applications, scientists and engineers continue to investigate and develop new superconducting materials and wire designs.
Superconducting wire technology is developing and has applications in many industries, including energy, medical, transportation, and computing.
The global superconductor wire market accounted for $XX Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030.
The longest superconducting power cable in the world is being created by NKT as a prototype. Power-dense transmission, which carries a significant quantity of electric power in a relatively compact cable design, is made possible by superconducting power cables.
Fujikura has been focusing on superconducting power cables, and by using greater critical current HTS wires, they have demonstrated triple reduced AC Loss than conventional power cables.
Korea Electric Power Corporation has fully funded and completed the first commercial project of higherature superconducting (HTS) power cables, called the Shingal Project, to connect two substations with a 23 kV HTS cable over a distance of 1 km.
In a breakthrough for the superconductor technology that powers the development of technologies like all-electric ships and aeroplanes, researchers at Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) have shown off a new, ready-to-use superconducting cable system.
High-temperature superconducting cables are being used in a UK initiative to expand the capacity of the metropolitan power system. The necessity of this has been made clear by the ban on constructing homes and factories in three London neighbourhoods due to a lack of electricity.
Superconducting cables with lower losses are being developed as part of the SCADENT (SuperConductor Applications for Dense Energy Transmission) project. The project is being led by National Grid Electricity Transmission, and participants include the Strathclyde and Manchester Universities, cable manufacturer Nexans France, and consulting firm Fazer-Nash.
In Shanghai, a high-capacity superconducting power line with cutting-edge technology went into operation. The 1.2 km cable, with a designed current capacity of 2,200 amps, connects two 220 kV substations in the Xuhui District’s commercial district. It is China’s State Grid’s first superconducting transmission project.
In the upcoming stage of the Resilient Electric Grid (REG) project in Chicago, Nexans reported today that it had installed and put into service a high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable for grid system supplier American Superconductor (AMSC).
In Chicago, the medium voltage (MV) cable was installed permanently. In the “Investissements d’Avenir” (Investments for the Future) initiative led by SNCF Réseau, Nexans, a pure electrification company, obtained a project from Bpifrance (French Public Investment Bank) for the installation of two superconducting DC cables close to Montparnasse station in Paris.
This will be the first time cables of this kind have been installed permanently in a French network and the first time cables of this kind have been incorporated into a rail network. These power cables’ ground-breaking technology will aid in network security at a time when rail traffic in megacities is constantly increasing.
AMSC doubles Superconductor Wire performance and reduces pricing. AMSC is now producing power cable wire with demonstrated performance up to 200 Amps.
At the Applied Superconductivity Conference (ASC 2012), AMSC, a worldwide solutions supplier servicing wind and grid leaders, announced a new class of Amperium superconductor wire for power cable applications with industry-leading performance, cost, and manufacturing capacity.
This innovation is likely to lead to lower-cost superconductor power lines, as well as an expansion of the worldwide addressable market for these systems.
AMSC has introduced brass-laminated 4.4 mm Amperium wire with current carrying capacity of up to 200 amps. When compared to AMSC’s existing range of 70-100 amp wires, this is deemed industry-leading performance for large-volume second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire.
The new wire, like AMSCO’s existing Amperium product line, offers superior electrical, mechanical, and thermal qualities. Along with this significant improvement in performance, AMSC has stated that the kiloamp-metre cost of this new brass-laminated wire has decreased significantly when compared to AMSC’s existing Amperium product line.
This is projected to lower the cost of superconductor power lines while also increasing the worldwide addressable market for these systems. Superconductor power cable systems may carry up to ten times the amount of power of traditional copper wire cables.
Superconductor power cables, when strategically positioned in metropolitan power grids, supply more power than ordinary cables in the same right-of-way, reducing grid congestion or replacing overhead lines. These cables are still in the early phases of development, with first in-grid deployments in China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and the United States.
North America
The North American market, particularly the USA, will be one of the prime markets for (Superconductor Wire) due to the nature of industrial automation in the region, high consumer spending compared to other regions, and the growth of various industries, mainly AI, along with constant technological advancements.
The GDP of the USA is one of the largest in the world, and it is home to various industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Aerospace, and Technology. The average consumer spending in the region was $72K in 2023, and this is set to increase over the forecast period. Industries are focused on industrial automation and increasing efficiency in the region. This will be facilitated by the growth in IoT and AI across the board. Due to tensions in geopolitics, much manufacturing is set to shift towards the USA and Mexico, away from China. This shift will include industries such as semiconductors and automotive.
Europe
The European market, particularly Western Europe, is another prime market for (Superconductor Wire) due to the strong economic conditions in the region, bolstered by robust systems that support sustained growth. This includes research and development of new technologies, constant innovation, and developments across various industries that promote regional growth. Investments are being made to develop and improve existing infrastructure, enabling various industries to thrive.
In Western Europe, the margins for (Superconductor Wire) are higher than in other parts of the world due to regional supply and demand dynamics. Average consumer spending in the region was lower than in the USA in 2023, but it is expected to increase over the forecast period.
Eastern Europe is anticipated to experience a higher growth rate compared to Western Europe, as significant shifts in manufacturing and development are taking place in countries like Poland and Hungary. However, the Russia-Ukraine war is currently disrupting growth in this region, with the lack of an immediate resolution negatively impacting growth and creating instability in neighboring areas. Despite these challenges, technological hubs are emerging in Eastern Europe, driven by lower labor costs and a strong supply of technological capabilities compared to Western Europe.
There is a significant boom in manufacturing within Europe, especially in the semiconductor industry, which is expected to influence other industries. Major improvements in the development of sectors such as renewable energy, industrial automation, automotive manufacturing, battery manufacturing and recycling, and AI are poised to promote the growth of (Superconductor Wire) in the region.
Asia
Asia will continue to be the global manufacturing hub for (Superconductor Wire Market) over the forecast period with China dominating the manufacturing. However, there will be a shift in manufacturing towards other Asian countries such as India and Vietnam. The technological developments will come from China, Japan, South Korea, and India for the region.
There is a trend to improve the efficiency as well as the quality of goods and services to keep up with the standards that are present internationally as well as win the fight in terms of pricing in this region. The demand in this region will also be driven by infrastructural developments that will take place over the forecast period to improve the output for various industries in different countries.
There will be higher growth in the Middle East as investments fall into place to improve their standing in various industries away from petroleum. Plans such as Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, Qatar Vision 2030, and Abu Dhabi 2030 will cause developments across multiple industries in the region. There is a focus on improving the manufacturing sector as well as the knowledge-based services to cater to the needs of the region and the rest of the world. Due to the shifting nature of fossil fuels, the region will be ready with multiple other revenue sources by the time comes, though fossil fuels are not going away any time soon.
Africa
Africa is expected to see the largest growth in (Superconductor Wire Market) over the forecast period, as the region prepares to advance across multiple fronts. This growth aligns with the surge of investments targeting key sectors such as agriculture, mining, financial services, manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and healthcare. These investments are poised to stimulate overall regional growth, creating ripple effects across other industries as consumer spending increases, access to products improves, and product offerings expand. This development is supported by both established companies and startups in the region, with assistance from various charitable organizations.
Additionally, the presence of a young workforce will address various existing regional challenges. There has been an improvement in political stability, which has attracted and will continue to attract more foreign investments. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are set to facilitate the easier movement of goods and services within the region, further enhancing the economic landscape.
RoW
Latin America and the Oceania region will showcase growth over the forecast period in (Superconductor Wire Market). In Latin America, the focus in the forecast period will be to improve their manufacturing capabilities which is supported by foreign investments in the region. This will be across industries mainly automotive and medical devices.
There will also be an increase in mining activities over the forecast period in this region. The area is ripe for industrial automation to enable improvements in manufacturing across different industries and efficiency improvements. This will lead to growth of other industries in the region.
