American Superconductor sees growth potential in protecting grids
American Superconductor (AMSC) in Westboro has noted that a majority of its high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire is being used in the development of fault current limiters, acting as high-voltage surge protectors for power grid systems.
AMSC's HTS wire is constructed of "smart" materials, possessing physical properties that allow them to conduct electricity with no resistance under normal operating conditions. However, when large surges of electricity do occur, the wire can switch to a resistive state to surpress power spikes. By limiting the effects of a surge, valuable electrical equipment becomes less susceptible to damage.
Greg Yurek, AMSC's founder and CEO, says that the potential market for fault current limiters represents a significant value. "This is a vast new market opportunity for HTS that the U.S. Department of Energy forecasts to be in the billions of dollars."
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