EnergyBiz - November/December 2007 - (Page 61)

superconductors play in this solution is two-fold: first, it meets rising urban power demands by increasing the flow of power through available rights of way. Second, the cable system itself is able to suppress “fault currents,” which are wreaking havoc on power grids today and are growing in frequency and intensity. It is, perhaps, the perfect irony. As utilities bring on more sources of electricity generation to meet demand, the magnitude of fault currents increases – potentially decreasing reliability of the power supply. High-temperature superconductors are “smart materials” in that they can carry vast amounts of electricity but act as a switch, instantly becoming a resistor when they see too much current. By deploying secure super grids, fault currents can be eradicated, saving the surrounding grid from blackout and saving utilities millions of dollars in equipment damage. The reliability of our society’s electric power infrastructure is central to our economic health. Secure super grids are emerging as a key means to relieve choke points in power grids and simultaneously suppress fault currents. This enables electric utilities to meet the ever-increasing demands of our digital economy for electricity, and to do so in a secure and reliable way. Gregory J. Yurek is chairman and chief executive officer of American Superconductor Corp. Tech FrOnTier Gatherings www.energycentral.com/events To view any of these events, please go to www.energycentral.com/ ) into the quick link box. quicklink and type the quick link code ( deceMber 3-5 nuclear Power Fundamentals Schenectady, N.Y. 3-6 4-6 6-8 7-9 11-13 11-12 12-14 | | World LnG summit | european Offshore Wind | enTech | energy expo 2007 | Power-Gen international | nuclear Power international | advances in energy research Rome Berlin Mumbai, India Ahmedabad, India New Orleans New Orleans Bombay, India E16930 E16596 E17227 E17214 E15819 E16063 E17195 E16488 a Long island Power authority crew installs a high-temperature superconductor cable circuit in its grid in holbrook, ny. set for commissioning this year, it is the world’s first transmission-level voltage hTs cable system. January 21-23 World Future energy summit | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates E17108 www.energycentral.com E n E rgyB i z 61 http://www.energycentral.com/events http://www.energycentral.com/quicklink http://www.energycentral.com/quicklink http://www.energycentral.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EnergyBiz - November/December 2007

EnergyBiz - November/December 2007 Contents Continental Grid Vision Needed Readers’ Views and Opinions Next for National Grid Clearing the Air The Need for Nuclear Energy Trade Status Report The Innovators California On The Leading Edge FERC Sparks Change Getting Coal Right Leadership in Times of Turmoil Innovation Delivers Return A Tale of Two IPOs LNGs Bright Prospects Generation Techologies The Age of Superconductors Leaders with Vision Get Ready for Plug-in Hybrids Betting on Batteries Cost of Decarbonizing Nuclear Helmsman – A chat with Dale Klein, Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Global Energy Snapshot; Low-Income Energy Help; IT Spending Robust; The Greening of State Regulators; Generating Support Simplifying Offshore Wind Regs Chasing Construction Costs Energy Agency Sets New Course Deregulation Means Higher Rates Go-To Staffer Nightmare in Manhatten

EnergyBiz - November/December 2007

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