Superconductivity
Zero losses. 10× power density. Proven at scale.
High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables and fault current limiters for power grids, hyperscale data centers, and offshore wind, with more than 20 years of field-proven deployments.
10x
more current capacity
than conventional copper cables
of the same size
≈0
resistive energy losses,
zero heat generated in the conductor
3.2 GW
power in a single 17 cm cable,
equivalent to three nuclear reactors
-200°C
operating temperature, reached with liquid nitrogen, inexpensive and harmless
20+
years of R&D and field deployments
across four continents
What is superconductivity?
Superconductivity is the complete loss of electrical resistance that occurs in certain materials when cooled to very low temperatures. First discovered in 1911, it has major implications for how electricity is transmitted, distributed, and protected.
High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS), discovered in the late 1980s, operate at -200°C, a temperature easily reached using liquid nitrogen: an abundant, inexpensive, and environmentally harmless coolant. The superconducting conductor is immersed in a continuous nitrogen flow and enclosed in a cryogenic envelope that provides excellent thermal insulation.
Unlike conventional copper or aluminium cables, which lose 5-10% of transmitted power as heat over long distances, HTS cables conduct electricity with virtually zero resistance, meaning no heat, no energy loss, and no electromagnetic field emissions.
World leaders in flexible cryogenic envelope technology, with more than 20 years of proven expertise in HTS cable systems and superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs).
Cryogenic systemsZero energy loss
HTS cables have zero resistive losses, unlike conventional systems that dissipate 3–10% of power as heat. The cooling energy is less than the transmission savings achieved.
Minimal footprint
Up to 10× less space than copper cables of equivalent capacity. Rights of way as narrow as 1 metre. No overhead lines, no wide trenches, no drying of surrounding soil.
Fault current limiting
Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SFCLs) react within milliseconds to short circuits — protecting transformers, switchgear, and downstream equipment automatically.
Zero heat & EMF
No heat emission regardless of transmitted power. No electromagnetic field interference with adjacent telecom, data, or pipeline infrastructure. Cables can be buried at greater depths.
No new tunnels needed
Existing pipes or tunnels can be retrofitted with HTS cables, considerably increasing transmission capacity without new civil engineering work.
Superconducting solutions by application
The same HTS platform, proven in urban grids for more than two decades, now addresses the power challenges of AI-era data centers, offshore wind, and future rail.
Hyperscale & gigawatt data centers
HTS cables carry up to 10x more power with zero heat, solving the space, thermal, and efficiency crisis in AI-era facilities. World-first LV AC & LV DC demonstration unveiled at Stella Nova, Hanover (2025).
Cryogenic envelope & cooling systems
Every HTS system depends on world-class cryogenic engineering. Flexible vacuum-insulated piping (CRYOFLEX®) maintains the −200°C nitrogen flow, from cable joints to terminations.
Future rail & traction networks
Superconducting DC systems support high-speed rail traction by delivering higher currents over longer distances without energy loss, as demonstrated at Gare Montparnasse, Paris.
The industrialization of superconductivity is revolutionizing the path toward a more efficient and modern energy grid. With its advancing technology readiness and ongoing breakthroughs, superconductivity serves as a powerful catalyst for accelerating the energy transition and achieving Net-Zero targets.
Acceleration Units Director, Nexans
Success stories
Frequently asked questions about superconducting cables
Talk to our superconductivity experts
Whether you are planning a grid reinforcement, a data center campus, or an offshore wind connection, our team can evaluate the business case for HTS technology on your project.
Superconductivity: Powering a new era of energy infrastructure
