LIPA project: powering the US grid

Overcoming grid constraints while minimising the cost and environmental impact of upgrades

Utilities need ways to overcome grid constraints, while minimising the cost and environmental impact of upgrades. The LIPA project in the US state of New York demonstrated how superconducting cables can address these needs in a high-voltage transmission grid. The project was coordinated by American Superconductor and funded by the US Department of Energy.

Nexans superconducting cable systems: a world's first in transmission cable system

Nexans developed and delivered a complete 138 kV AC superconducting cable system, including the cable core, the cryogenic envelope and the terminations. Nexans was also in charge of supervising cable pulling in ducts and of installing terminations. The host utility was the Long Island Power Authority.

The project established the feasibility of using HTS cables in a transmission grid, with benefits that included the ability to carry more power in an existing right of way. The LIPA project established several world records for superconducting cables when it was installed, including longest cable, first in-grid transmission cable system at transmission voltage, and highest power.