Jan 25 2008
American Superconductor Corporation, a leading energy technologies company, announced today that it has received a contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Project HYDRA. Project HYDRA, which commenced in May 2007 under a letter contract with DHS, focuses on the development and deployment of AMSC's Secure Super Grids technology in the power delivery network in Manhattan operated by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
AMSC's Secure Super Grids technology is a proprietary, system-level 'smart grid' solution that utilizes high temperature superconductor (HTS) power cables and ancillary controls to deliver up to 10 times more power through the grid while at the same time suppressing power surges - or fault currents - that can disrupt service. The technology utilizes multiple paths for electricity flow in metropolitan power grids to ensure system redundancy when individual circuits are disrupted due to severe weather, traffic accidents or willful destruction. Secure Super Grids technology requires the use of AMSC's proprietary 344 superconductors.
Under the terms of the final contract, DHS will provide up to $25 million in total funding for the $39 million project. DHS has provided approximately $3.8 million of this total to date while AMSC and its partners have been working continuously on Project HYDRA under a letter agreement with DHS for the past eight months. This project builds on the foundation in HTS technology developed over the past 20 years by U.S. private industry and by the Department of Energy.
"This contract provides us with the resources necessary to fund this important project in Manhattan," said AMSC founder and Chief Executive Officer Greg Yurek. "There is a critical need to protect the electrical infrastructure of our nation's cities, and our Secure Super Grids technology provides a unique approach to achieving this objective. We are making great headway on the project and look forward to its successful completion in 2010 to meet Con Edison's construction schedule."
AMSC - working with subcontractors Con Edison and Southwire Company - has achieved all project milestones on schedule since the launch of Project HYDRA in May 2007. The next major milestone for the project is the manufacture and testing of a 50-meter-long prototype HTS cable, which is expected to be accomplished by the end of 2008.
Testing will be performed in conjunction with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The full-scale, 300-meter-long HTS power cable system will connect two of Con Edison's Manhattan substations and is scheduled to be installed and operating in 2010, in conjunction with Con Edison's construction schedule. The system will require approximately 93 miles (150,000 meters) of AMSC's 344 superconductors.
"The response from the market to our Secure Super Grids system-level solution has been tremendous," said Yurek. "Utilities worldwide are seeking ways to relieve choke points and instantly suppress power surges in their grids, and Secure Super Grids technology accomplishes both goals simultaneously. With Con Edison as the first proposed adopter of this unique, proprietary technology, we believe Project HYDRA will be the first of many installations of Secure Super Grid solutions in cities around the world."