Superconducting transmission lines – Sustainable electric energy transfer with higher public acceptance?

Superconducting transmission lines have a tremendous size advantage and lower total electrical losses for high capacity transmission compared to solutions based on standard conductors. This leads to a minimized environmental impact and enables an overall more sustainable transmission of electric energy. The socio-economic aspects of transmission lines based on the novel magnesium diboride superconductor and on high-temperature superconductors are compared to state-of-the-art HVDC overhead lines and underground cables based on resistive conductors.