Introduction to Techno-Economic Assessments of HTS Systems

Abstract

École thématiqueThe scientific and industrial interest in superconducting power cables has experienced significant growth in recent years due to their technological advantages over traditional cables in specific scenarios. Indeed, it is only through techno-economic analyses (TEA) that potential cost-effective solutions can be identified. This lecture provides an introduction to TEA approaches, specifically applied to superconducting cable systems. A case study involving a medium-voltage AC cable in a co-axial configuration using High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) tapes is examined. Simplified equations are presented to derive the technical parameters of the cable and calculate the required economic indexes. A hands-on activity is proposed, where students will implement the equations and will interpret the outcomes, understanding convenient alternatives compared to conventional technology benchmarks. Additionally, advanced TEA optimization models will be introduced to refine solutions by minimizing approximations