LS Cable & System (CEO & Chairman: Christopher Koo) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO, Vice President: Wookyum Kim) announced on the 21st that LS Cable & System and KEPCO, together with the Korea Electro-technology Research Institute and Korea Electric Power Research Institute, are embarking on extensive R&D to implement a next-generation superconducting power transmission network project initiated by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy to develop smart grid technologies by 2016.
This project, which aims at developing Korea into a leader of the global superconducting electric devices market, was initiated based on the necessity of developing large-capacity, high-efficiency, and eco-friendly power transmission technologies using superconductor technology, and applying them to actual transmission systems in an effort to effectively handle demand for next-generation power network implementation and to respond to the global trend of low-carbon green growth.
The objectives of this project are (1) to select systems for superconducting device applications, to analyze the systems and derive system integration plans, and (2) to discover systematic support measures to commercialize the technologies and secure operation standards, maintenance procedures, and engineering techniques. To fulfill the objectives, subtasks have been set to develop a transmission level DC (80kV or higher) / AC (154kV or higher) superconductor cable system manufacturing system, applications, and performance evaluation, operation and maintenance technologies; and a transmission level superconducting fault current limiter (AC 154 kV/4000 A, Refer to glossary), certification test, system applications, and performance evaluation, operation and maintenance technologies. At present, among the superconducting electric power devices, the transmission level superconductor cable and transmission level superconducting fault current limiter technologies are the closest to commercialization. Studies for system application are being actively carried out particularly in the US and Europe.
LS Cable & System will be placed in charge of manufacturing transmission level superconductor cable systems; developing transmission-level superconductor cable system application performance evaluations, operation, and maintenance technologies; developing cooling systems for a transmission level superconductor cable system (10kW or higher), and developing and assessing prototypes for the application of domestically-produced superconductor cable materials.
Superconductor cable, which has practically zero electrical resistance, can send a large amount of electricity over a long distance without loss. LS Cable & System was the first in Korea to succeed in developing this type of cable. In addition, LS Cable & System was selected as a cable supplier for the Tres Amigas project, where superconductor cable is used as a basis for integrating three large and expansive yet disparate power networks in the US, one serving the eastern areas, another serving the western areas and another serving the areas in Texas. LS Cable & System has also succeeded in developing the world's highest level 154kV transmission superconductor cable terminal (the connector between the superconductor cable and the existing power network). As such, LS Cable & System has proven that it possesses world-class technology.
KEPCO System Planning Director Sungyu Park said, "This national project will be an opportunity for Korea to advance further in the global electric power market." LS Cable & System CTO and Vice President Junhyeong Jo explained, "We will continuously promote technological development so that it will be Korea's next-generation growth engine industry, and therefore Korea will lead the global superconductor cable market of high growth potential."
