Improved Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators

Default ARPA-E Project Image

Program:
REACT
Award:
$2,479,770
Location:
Upton , New York
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
01/01/2012 - 03/31/2016
Website:

Technology Description:

Brookhaven National Laboratory is developing a low-cost superconducting wire that could be used in high-power wind generators. Superconducting wire currently transports 600 times more electric current than a similarly sized copper wire, but is significantly more expensive. Brookhaven National Laboratory will develop a high-performance superconducting wire that can handle significantly more electrical current, and will demonstrate an advanced manufacturing process that has the potential to yield a several-fold reduction in wire costs while using a using negligible amount of rare earth material. This design has the potential to make a wind turbine generator lighter, more powerful, and more efficient, particularly for offshore applications.

Potential Impact:

If successful, Brookhaven National Laboratory's superconducting wire would make wind generators practical for widespread deployment and result in the substantial reduction of greenhouse gases by positioning wind as a viable alternative to coal-powered electricity.

Security:

The U.S. produces a small fraction globally of industrial rare earths. Developing alternatives to the use of rare earths has the potential to reduce our dependence on these materials and will have a positive impact on our national economic and energy security.

Environment:

Cost-effective superconducting wire would enable widespread use of wind power and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal power, which produces 20% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Economy:

The average American spends nearly $4,000 each year on energy. Encouraging renewable alternatives to traditional sources of energy would diversify our energy portfolio and save consumers money in the long run.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Patrick McGrath
Project Contact:
Dr. Qiang Li
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
qiangli@bnl.gov

Partners

American Superconductor Corporation

Related Projects

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• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) - Exchange-Spring Magnets
• Baldor Electric Company - Rare-Earth-Free Traction Motor
• Brookhaven National Laboratory - Improved Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators
• Case Western Reserve University - Iron-Nitride Alloy Magnets
• Dartmouth College - Manganese-Aluminum-Based Magnets
• Northeastern University - Iron-Nickel-Based Supermagnets
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) - Manganese-Based Magnets
• QM Power - Efficient, High-Torque Electric Vehicle Motor
• University of Alabama - Rare-Earth-Free Nanostructure Magnets
• University of Houston - Low-Cost Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators
• University of Minnesota (UMN) - Iron-Nitride-Based Magnets
• University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) - Double-Stator Motor Design
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) - Carbon-Based Magnets

Release Date:
04/20/2011