High temperature superconductors for power cables

Six major European electrical companies have been collaborating together in a precompetitive BRITE/EURAM research project targetting the application of high T(c) superconductors in power cables and other high-current applications. The main objectives that have been addressed are: (1) identifying new superconducting phases with superior properties for the intended applications, including improved flux pinning at liquid nitrogen temperature; and (2) devising and improving techniques for fabricating experimental conductors with a high degree of texturing. The results obtained to date include the discovery of a new (Pb,Cd)- 1212 superconducting phase and the fabrication and assessment of experimental conductors incorporating YBCO and BSCCO phases. Some of these samples provide encouragement for high-current applications.