World's First 35-KV Superconducting Power Cable Demonstration Project Starts Operation

The world's first 35-kilovolt superconducting power cable went into operation in Shanghai on Dec 22. It was a major core-technology breakthrough in China's new-type power system construction and made the country one of the global leaders in superconducting transmission.

Located in a central area of Shanghai, the 1.2-kiometer power line has a design current of 2,200 amperes. It is the first superconducting power transmission project in China and the longest and largest-capacity 35-kV high-temperature fully-commercialized superconducting cable in the world.

Its operation marks use of the world's first superconducting cable as a supporting backbone of a metropolis.

During project construction a series of standards of superconducting cable production, testing, design and engineering was developed, laying a foundation for promotion and application of superconducting cable.

The contradiction between high power load density and limited power space resources in core urban areas is becoming increasingly prominent due to urbanization. Successful operation of the superconducting cable project is expected to help relieve pressure of urban power grid construction and promote industrialization of superconducting power transmission technology.

The power cable project was designed by POWERCHINA Shanghai Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA).

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)