University of Glasgow – University News

Researchers from the University of Glasgow are sharing their expertise in a new European project that aims to boost the role of superconducting cable in the continent’s transition to clean energy.

Principal investigator Dr. Mohammad Yazdani-Ashrami and co-investigator Dr. Wenjuan Song from the James Watt School of Engineering will lead the university’s contribution to the Center for Power Cable Life Cycle Diagnostics (CABLEGNOSIS) project.

Supported by €6m (£5m) in new funding from the European Commission’s Research and Innovation Project HORIZON, CABLEGNOSIS brings together 17 partners from 5 countries to help Europe achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050 in the energy sector.

Photo courtesy of ASG Superconductors – 1 GW superconducting cable for dispersion-free power transmission with reduced environmental footprint, IRIS project – INFN

The European Union’s clean energy transition targets aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. To achieve these goals, power grids must adapt to a situation where 50% of electricity comes from renewable energy sources of all sizes. by 2030.

The huge increase in the share of solar PV and wind technologies in total generation is fundamentally changing the European grid, which will need to be supported by new cable connections for high-voltage DC and HVAC systems.

They will play a critical role in the electricity grid, providing massive amounts of renewable energy capacity, connecting islands or offshore wind farms to the mainland, or connecting countries over long distances.

The CABLEGNOSIS project aims to provide innovative cable technologies that will play a key role in supporting the EU’s clean energy transition by achieving its 2050 targets.

CABLEGNOSIS will focus on the development of advanced insulation technologies and conductor design, high-performance and environmentally friendly cable insulation materials, and aging research on conventional and superconducting cables. In addition, the project will explore technologies for processing power cable materials and introduce aluminum-based tools for pre-failure monitoring, aging analysis and remote diagnostics.

The University of Glasgow will support the project’s goals by developing predictive maintenance models for superconducting cables, which require cooling to extremely low temperatures of around minus 250 degrees Celsius to transmit electricity with virtually no resistance.

The researchers will develop artificial intelligence-based models to study how cables made from an advanced superconducting material called magnesium diboride (MgB2) age when exposed to hydrogen gas for long periods of time.

Their models will be tested and verified in specially designed laboratory tests, where they will be kept in a hydrogen cryostat – equipment that simulates the low temperatures they will be exposed to in the real world.

Their results will help inform the future process of assessing the condition of superconducting cables, allowing electricity suppliers to predict when maintenance may be required and minimize maintenance costs as well as network downtime.

Dr Yazdani-Asrami said: “The James Watt School of Engineering is uniquely positioned to contribute to this aspect of the development of artificial intelligence-based superconducting cable models in CABLEGNOSIS, which is one of the world’s largest superconducting cable research projects.

“Understanding how these cables age is critical to their practical implementation, but we don’t yet know exactly how MgB2 and high-temperature superconductors will be affected by prolonged exposure to hydrogen at low temperatures. However, we know that if a superconducting cable’s performance degrades significantly beyond its life cycle, it could mean replacing infrastructure years ahead of schedule, leading to increased costs and potential power outages.

“Our research will help energy suppliers better predict maintenance needs, making these systems more reliable and cost-effective. The models we are developing will shed new light on the aging mechanism of superconducting cables. Ultimately, this will accelerate the development of life cycle assessment tools that will have a significant impact on the future design and operation of superconducting cables in a wide range of energy applications.”

Dr Song said: “This research will be an important part of the work of the CABLEGNOSIS consortium, but it has implications beyond simple energy transfer. The methods and models we develop can help understand how similar technologies can be used in other sectors.” from the development of electric aircraft to fusion power reactors, both of which will rely on superconducting cables and technology. Getting this issue right now is important to accelerating the transition to net-zero energy in Scotland, the UK and Europe.”

The project is the latest development in the University of Glasgow’s extensive net-zero research base, which includes interdisciplinary projects at the Glasgow Center for Sustainable Solutions and the Glasgow Center for Sustainable Energy.

The university, which has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, is ranked in the top 20 in the world for sustainability by the QS Worlds Sustainability Rankings and 12th in the world by THE Impact.

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First published: November 25, 2024