• 1992-1995
• ATP funding amount: $1.8M
• American Superconductor Corporation cost-share amount: $2.6M

In 1991, ASC won an award from NIST's Advanced Technology Program (ATP) to develop high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils.  The initial application was to make more efficient electric motors, but as it turned out, the impact has been greater than just that initial focus.

HTS wires have application in many different areas: utility generators, industrial ship propulsion motors, and power cables. Some important examples of this potential being realized include:

• In January 2002, ASC was awarded a $26 million contract to supply General Electric (GE) with HTS wire for the world’s first 100 megawatt generator. GE estimates the proposed HTS generator will save millions of dollars in energy savings and reduced emissions.1
• As reported in the June 3, 2004, issue of The Economist, ASC delivered to the U.S. Navy a 5 MW motor prototype, and is on target to deliver a full-scale 36.5 MW motor for ship propulsion. The reason for the Navy’s interest in this is that this motor will weigh one-third less that its conventional alternative.

By helping the American Superconductor Corporation overcome the technical risks in developing a process to manufacture HTS wire, ATP has enabled economic and social impacts in the United States including:

• Increased manufacturing capabilities
• Increased employment (at the start of the ATP project, AMSC had 60 employees; it now has almost 300)
• More efficient motors that weigh less, save energy, and reduce emissions

ASC has received external recognition for its technical accomplishments. Some key awards that ASC has won that are related to the ATP project include:

• Industry Week magazine’s Technology of the Year Award in 1996.
• Top 100 Award in 1996 from R&D magazine for the development of CryoSaver© current leads, a spin-off product related to the ATP project.

More recently, the London-based Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) selected Dr. Yurek for the 2003 Viscount Nuffield Silver Medal, its award for the most meritorious contribution to the manufacturing profession for creating “an entirely new, growing global market for superconductor products."2

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1 http://www.silverinstitute.org/news/1b02.html. 
2 http://www.ornl.gov/sci/oetd/news/american_superconductor.htm.

Date created:  June 1, 2005
Last updated: August 21, 2006