SUBRACABLE | Making Superconducting power grids a feasible solution for Europe

Summary
Power transmission is a critical step in electrifying and decarbonizing Europe. The construction of cross-continental grids for transmitting large amounts of power over very long distances has become strategic. But using current cables made with standard conductors entail prohibitive energy losses in such grids: 50GW would be wasted in a pan-European 75.000km 10GW High-Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) grid, equal to the electricity produced by 50 power plants.
SUBRA, a spin-off from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), has developed and patented a solution which will revolutionise European grids by mass producing High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) power cables, with superior properties, no limitation in length, and at an affordable price. This represents a ground-breaking option allowing: 90% reduction of energy losses; 99% reduction of copper required; 75% reduction of Levelized Cost of Transmission (LCoT); and using small underground lines rather than overhead lines.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/190185467
Start date: 01-09-2023
End date: 31-08-2025
Total budget - Public funding: 3 567 845,00 Euro - 2 497 491,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Power transmission is a critical step in electrifying and decarbonizing Europe. The construction of cross-continental grids for transmitting large amounts of power over very long distances has become strategic. But using current cables made with standard conductors entail prohibitive energy losses in such grids: 50GW would be wasted in a pan-European 75.000km 10GW High-Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) grid, equal to the electricity produced by 50 power plants.
SUBRA, a spin-off from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), has developed and patented a solution which will revolutionise European grids by mass producing High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) power cables, with superior properties, no limitation in length, and at an affordable price. This represents a ground-breaking option allowing: 90% reduction of energy losses; 99% reduction of copper required; 75% reduction of Levelized Cost of Transmission (LCoT); and using small underground lines rather than overhead lines.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOROPEN-01

Update Date

12-03-2024
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EU-Programme-Call
Horizon Europe
HORIZON.3 Innovative Europe
HORIZON.3.1 The European Innovation Council (EIC)
HORIZON.3.1.0 Cross-cutting call topics
HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOR-01
HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOROPEN-01 EIC Accelerator Open 2023