Air Liquide, CentraleSupélec, ITP Interpipe, Nexans and RTE have formed a consortium to develop a High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) superconducting power transmission system demonstrator under the SupraMarine project. The initiative will examine the use of High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables for electrical connections between offshore wind farms and the mainland. These cables, cooled by liquid nitrogen, can transmit power with minimal energy loss.
Air Liquide will supply cryogenic systems based on its Turbo-Brayton technology and lead studies on thermal performance and cryogenic operation. CentraleSupélec, through the GeePs laboratory (Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, CentraleSupélec), will contribute research expertise and experimental resources. ITP Interpipe will design the rigid Pipe-in-Pipe cryostat envelope to maintain superconducting conditions. Nexans will develop the HVAC superconducting cables, junctions and terminations, while RTE will provide operational insights to ensure grid compatibility.
Testing of the demonstrator is planned for 2028. The project has received €7.3 million in funding from the French government under the France 2030 programme, operated by ADEME.
