Superconductor ensures service reliability

Beaumont - Entergy Corp. became the first U.S. electric utility to purchase two state-of-the-art Distributed Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (D-SMES) system units from an alliance formed by American Superconductor Corporation and GE.

The Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage or SMES, is American Superconductor’s patented means of storing large quantities of electricity in a superconducting electromagnetic coil until needed as a power supplement. Researchers have sought for a technology to "store" electricity for years.

The unit’s components are housed in a semi-tractor trailer and attached to transformers at utility substations at strategic locations within a power grid or installed as an interface between a utility power supply and an industrial or commercial power user to improve power quality.

When a voltage drop is detected by the unit’s electronics, SMES instantaneously injects precise amounts of power into the system it is protecting, thereby keeping voltage levels stable.

"This new technology will be invaluable in the many situation we face that can cause voltage problems," said Joe Domino, Entergy Texas president and CEO.

"Our commitment is to ensure quality, reliable service," Domino added.. "We’re very proud to be the first in the country to put this technology in place as one of the many ways we plan to follow through on that commitment."

The systems will be installed in two 138-kilovolt substations, the Metro Substation in The Woodlands, and the New Caney Substation in New Caney. South Montgomery County was selected as the site for the systems because of the area’s phenomenal growth, which, in turn, creates high growth in demand for electricity. Entergy is currently planning new transmission facilities to better serve the area, but construction may take two years to complete.

"We analyzed many different solutions to meet our load growth and improve reliability in the region," said Sharma Kolluri, Entergy’s supervisor of the Technical Studies Group, Technical System Planning – Transmission. "The D-SMES system offered by GE and American Superconductor clearly was the lowest-cost, most effective and quickest solution available to meet our needs."

Entergy is considering whether additional units may be purchased for other areas of its electrical system, which includes 15,500 miles of high voltage transmission lines and 1,450 transmission substations.

Entergy Corporation, with annual revenues of nearly $9 billion, is a major global energy company engaged in power production, distribution operations, and related diversified services, with more than 12,200 employees. Entergy owns, manages or invests in power plants generating nearly 30,000 megawatts of electricity domestically and internationally and delivers electricity to about 2.5 million customers in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Information is available on the Internet at www.entergy.com.