Your Location Within Site:
Superconductivity and Energy group
IRL's Superconductivity and Energy Group is focused on technology innovation and application to address key issues associated with transforming the way we obtain and utilise energy.
This includes helping New Zealand manufacturers of equipment based on High Temperature Superconductors (HTS[?]), including HTS power systems equipment, and the wider power systems sector to grow through innovation.
IRL and partners have developed HTS technologies for the scientific, medical, industrial and power industries. Milestones include the sale of the world’s longest second-generation HTS cables to Siemens; working with American Superconductor on materials and manufacturing process improvements for second generation YBCO[?] wire; and the establishment of General Cable Superconductors, a joint venture with General Cable (NZ) Ltd that develops, manufactures and sells HTS cable for magnets, transformers and rotating machines.
IRL's world-leading HTS programme supports HTS-110 Ltd, a spin-off company that designs and builds magnet products for scientific and industrial applications, including laboratory magnets and rotors and high speed generators. In partnership with Air Liquide, IRL has developed cryogenic refrigeration technology that is licensed to HTS-110.
The group's other interests centre on the modernisation and growth of the electricity infrastructure and how it is integrated with emerging distributed generation technologies and alternative transport fuels. Research includes:
- Distributed electricity generation, microgrids, alternative community power supply and energy storage
- Wave energy conversion technology
- Fuel cells, electrolysis and advanced hydrogen conversion technologies
- integration of hydrogen as a storable, renewable energy carrier.