USA - American Superconductor and DOE to assess large wind turbine design

American Superconductor Corp. says it has entered into a 12-month partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to find a way to make production of a full 10 megawatt class superconductor wind turbine economically attractive.

AMSC, based near Worcester, Mass., will work with DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its National Wind Technology Center to study the economic impact and costs of AMSC’s turbine model. The company says its direct drive wind generator systems use high temperature superconductor wire instead of copper wire for the generator’s rotor, and are expected to be much smaller, lighter and more efficient than conventional turbine design

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net