HTS Applied to Power System: Benefits and Potential Analysis for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction

Energy conservation and emission reduction is a critical task for power systems. Innovative technology such as applied superconductivity has great potential. With the rapid advances in high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology, various HTS power applications, such as HTS cables, HTS transformers, HTS generators, HTS fault current limiters, and superconducting magnetic energy storage can be of great help for energy conservation and emissions reduction in modern power systems. A brief review of energy losses and CO
₂
emissions in power systems is first presented with various currently existing solutions and techniques analyzed and compared. After analysis of the inherent characteristics of HTS applications, the potential and possible benefits of HTS power applications for energy conservation and emission reduction are studied in detail. In addition, the technical and economic challenges for HTS power applications are also discussed. It is obvious that HTS power applications have great potential and extensive direct and indirect benefits for energy conservation and emissions reduction in the future power systems, after some challenges for HTS power applications have been solved.