NKT to co-develop the world’s longest superconductor in Germany

There is huge potential to ensure the transition to renewable energy by leveraging the benefits of superconductors in large cities. NKT is now one of five partners signing a Memorandum of Understanding to take part in driving the development project of the SuperLink in Munich, Germany. 

When the development project has been finalized, the 12-kilometer high-voltage transmission line between the Menzing main substation west of Munich and the large substation Munich South will be realized using undergound cables with "high-temperature superconductors" (HTS) inside. This would mean that by far the longest superconductor cable connection in the world would be created in Munich.

The special feature of this technology is the extreme compactness of the cable with simultaneous environmental neutrality - especially in comparison to conventional cables and overhead lines. With this cable, the power grid of SWM is to become future-proof.

It is increasingly important to develop solutions to support the overall green transformation and the ambitions of the German Energiewende. To do so, we are committed to providing our expertise and capabilities in this partnership to contribute to superconducting cable solutions developed specifically for this application, providing our partner, SWM and their end users with optimized access to clean energy, says Anders Jensen, Chief Technology Officer in NKT.

Sustainable infrastructure for a growing metropolis Munich is growing and with it the demands on the supply networks. Not least because of the increasing electrification of private transport and the associated need to ensure the supply of electricity. Therefore, appropriate measures for the expansion of the networks are necessary. With the SuperLink project in preparation for the deployment of a HTS high-performance cable in Munich, the SWM infrastructure lays the foundation for the commercial use of superconductors to safeguard the energy supply of major cities and megacities.

The project is owned by SWM Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke München and besides NKT the partners are Linde AG, THEVA, the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.