American Superconductor Corp. (www.amsc.com) has expanded its strategic alliance with Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI) and has received a new order for AMSC's high-temperature superconductor (HTS) wire. SECRI will use the HTS wire to develop and manufacture a 30-m (98-ft)-long, 35-kV cable system.

SECRI is the leading research, development and standardization institution for China's wire and cable industry, and is one of two centers that test and certify power cables for China.

Under the terms of the expanded strategic alliance, AMSC will deliver HTS wire and provide consulting services to SECRI. SECRI will develop the cable system with support from the local Shanghai government.

“In addition to the transmission voltage superconductor cables we have been developing, we now are developing distribution voltage superconductor cable systems for the Chinese market,” said Wei Dong, SECRI's general manager. “We expect the first superconductor cable deployment in China's power grid system to occur early in the next decade and that this will lead to widespread adoption of superconductor cables throughout China.”

AMSC is the preferred supplier of HTS wire to SECRI and the recommended preferred HTS wire supplier to SECRI's cable manufacturing licensees for all superconductor cables. AMSC also is providing consulting services to SECRI for its superconductor power cable development program.

AMSC and SECRI are now broadening their relationship to include distribution voltage cables. Under the expanded collaborative effort, the companies will jointly work to develop the Chinese market for SECRI's cable designs and cable manufacturing equipment expertise as well as AMSC's HTS wire. They also will develop localized HTS cable design and manufacturing capabilities to supply the Chinese market.