Power applications for superconducting cables in Denmark

In Denmark a growing concern for environmental protection has lead to wishe s that the number of overhead lines is reduced as much as possible and that the energy supply should be shifted to renewable energy sources, e.g. wind mills. Superconducting cables represent an interesting alternative to conventional cables, as they have other characteristics than conventional cables and wi ll be able to transmit two or more times the current. Superconducting cables are especially interesting as a target for replacing overhead lines. Superconducting cables in the overall network are of inter est in cases such as transmission of energy into cities and through areas o f special beauty. The planned large groups of off-shore windmills-in Denmar k generating up to 400 MVA or more will be an obvious case for the applicat ion of superconducting AC or DC cables. These opportunities can be combined with other new technologies such as high voltage DC (HVDC) based on isolat ed gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). The network needed in a system with a substantial wind power generation has to be quite stiff in order to handle energy fluctuations. Such a network may be possible, e.g. using superconduc ting cables.