Installation and Power Grid Demonstration of a 22.9 kV, 50 MVA, High Temperature Superconducting Cable for KEPCO

Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has a great interest on the application of HTS cable to its network to relieve power congestion and enhance the reliability of the power system. Down through the years from 2005 to 2010, the 22.9 kV, 50 MVA HTS cable has been demonstrated by field test, showing affirmative results. With the financial support of Ministry of Knowledge and Economy (MKE), the new project to install and operate the HTS cable in electrical network of Korea was launched in 2008. An HTS cable with the 22.9 kV, 50 MVA, and 410 m length was installed in the KECPO grid in the end of 2010. After the integration of the HTS cable system, the commissioning items of the DC withstand voltage test, DC critical current test, and heat loss measurements were conducted in accordance with the Korean industrial standard, and self-defined specifications. The HTS cable was energized on the 154 kV Icheon substation of KEPCO on August 19th, 2011. The details of the project description, onsite installation, and commissioning tests are presented in this paper.