Offshore wind power holds enormous potential but has long been plagued by transmission losses and supply chain bottlenecks. Recently, five institutions including Nexans have joined hands to establish the SupraMarine Consortium, initiating the R&D of a high-voltage AC superconducting power transmission system targeting efficient power connection between offshore wind farms and onshore grids – a breakthrough that will drive technological upgrading in global Cable Machinery, wire and cable machinery, and cable manufacturing machine sectors.
The consortium brings together players across industry, academia, research and application, with core roles closely linked to advanced wire and cable machinery R&D:
Nexans Group, a leader in cable technology, is responsible for the R&D of superconducting cables, accessories and terminations, relying on cutting-edge cable manufacturing machine and precision processing equipment;
Air Liquide provides cryogenic equipment to ensure the superconducting state of cables and stable thermal performance of the system, which will be integrated with specialized Cable Machinery for low-temperature operation;
École Centrale Paris - Supélec leverages its research platforms and talent resources to tackle key scientific challenges, particularly in optimizing the compatibility between superconducting materials and wire take up machine systems;
ITP Interpipe develops high-insulation rigid outer sheaths to "lock" the system's pressure resistance, a critical component that will require customized wire and cable machinery for production;
RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité) integrates grid operation experience to ensure immediate usability upon deployment, providing practical application scenarios for innovative Cable Machinery and cable manufacturing machine.
The core highlight of the project lies in the "high-temperature superconductivity + liquid nitrogen cooling" combination, reducing line losses to nearly zero. Compared with traditional high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, this solution can drastically lower the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore wind power, while also setting new technical standards for Cable Machinery, especially in the design of high-efficiency wire take up machine and low-loss cable manufacturing machine. It will serve as a "booster" for Europe's and even the global energy transition, while promoting the upgrading of the entire wire and cable machinery industry chain.
Meanwhile, the project prioritizes the use of local European supply chains. This not only promotes the rise of Europe's superconducting industry but also drives the independent innovation of regional Cable Machinery and wire and cable machinery, reducing its dependence on imported electronic equipment and specialized cable manufacturing machine. The initiative is expected to achieve dual breakthroughs in superconducting transmission technology and wire take up machine & cable machinery industrial development, leading a new wave of innovation in the global wire and cable equipment sector.
