American Superconductor

American Superconductor Corporation, generally known as AMSC, is a U.S. energy-technology company headquartered in Ayer, Massachusetts. Founded in 1987 by MIT professor and materials scientist Gregory J. Yurek, the company began with research and commercialization efforts centered on high-temperature superconducting materials. Its technology portfolio developed around the use of superconductors and advanced power electronics in systems that require high current capacity, efficient power transmission, improved electrical stability, or specialized control capabilities. AMSC's activities have included the production of high-temperature superconductor wire, development of superconducting motors and generators, and design of power-electronic systems for wind farms and electric-transmission networks. Superconducting wire can carry substantially more electrical current than conventional copper conductors under suitable operating conditions, making it relevant to compact, high-capacity cables and other demanding power applications. The company has also applied superconducting technology to naval and other specialized protection systems. The company has historically operated through several related technology areas rather than as a conventional consumer-facing brand. Its grid activities have included superconducting transmission cables, resilient-grid systems, power-quality and grid-protection equipment, and systems intended to support renewable-energy integration. Its wind business has included turbine-control technology, power-conversion systems, and generator designs developed through AMSC Windtec, an Austrian subsidiary based in Klagenfurt. These offerings serve utilities, grid operators, wind-turbine manufacturers, renewable-energy developers, government customers, and industrial users. AMSC completed its initial public offering in 1991 and is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker AMSC. During its development, the company pursued acquisitions and strategic projects intended to move superconducting technology from laboratory research toward commercial infrastructure. Examples include superconducting cable demonstrations and deployments in the United States, a high-temperature-superconductor cable project on Long Island, renewable-grid interconnection concepts, and large superconducting motor and generator programs. The company experienced a severe commercial and corporate crisis in 2011 after proprietary wind-turbine control software was transferred to Sinovel, its largest customer, by an employee. Sinovel stopped making expected payments, materially disrupting AMSC's business and market valuation. The episode led to criminal proceedings involving the employee and subsequent litigation and enforcement activity. AMSC continued operating afterward and has maintained a focus on grid resilience, superconducting systems, power electronics, and wind technologies. Its current product mix, financial condition, customer composition, and geographic exposure should be verified through its latest regulatory filings and company announcements.

American Superconductor was founded on April 9, 1987, by Gregory J. Yurek, an MIT professor and materials scientist. The founding group also included Yet-Ming Chiang, David A. Rudman, and John B. Vander Sande. The company began as a materials and applied-technology venture focused on high-temperature superconductivity, a field concerned with materials that can carry electrical current with very low resistance when cooled below their operating transition temperature. From this technical base, AMSC pursued commercial uses for superconductors in the electricity industry. One important product area was high-temperature-superconductor wire, which can support much greater current capacity than copper wire in appropriately designed systems. The company also worked on superconducting motors and generators, transmission cables, and power systems that combine superconducting components with electronics, cooling, and control technologies. AMSC completed its initial public offering in 1991. During the following decades, it broadened its activities through internal development, projects, partnerships, and acquisitions. Wind power became an important commercial field. Through its wholly owned Austrian subsidiary, AMSC Windtec, the company developed wind-turbine control, generator, and power-conversion technologies for wind-equipment manufacturers and project customers. Its broader power-electronics activities also addressed transmission systems, renewable-energy integration, and grid management. The company participated in several notable superconducting-power projects. In 2001, it installed a superconducting transmission-cable test at Detroit Edison's Frisbie substation. In 2008, the Holbrook Superconductor Project on Long Island entered service. The project used approximately 600 meters of AMSC-manufactured high-temperature-superconductor wire in an underground cable cooled with liquid nitrogen and has been described as the first production superconducting transmission-power cable. AMSC was also selected as a supplier for the proposed Tres Amigas renewable-energy market hub in New Mexico, a concept intended to link and balance power between the Eastern, Western, and Texas interconnections using direct-current superconducting electricity pipelines. The company announced a substantial wire supply arrangement involving South Korea's LS Cable for planned superconducting grid cabling. AMSC also demonstrated a 36.5-megawatt high-temperature-superconductor motor for the United States Navy and developed a large wind-turbine generator through AMSC Windtec. These projects illustrated the company's strategy of using superconductors in applications where compact size, high power density, and electrical performance could justify the complexity of cryogenic operation. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy announced funding for further development of superconducting electrical cables. The company later expanded its grid-resilience work. In 2021, AMSC and Commonwealth Edison announced successful commercial integration of a resilient electric-grid system in the Chicago area. The project used high-temperature-superconductor wire and was intended to improve reliability, resilience, and protection against severe hazards; a larger follow-on phase was under design at the time described by the reference material. AMSC suffered a major setback in 2011 when proprietary wind-turbine control software was transferred to Sinovel, a Chinese wind-turbine manufacturer and AMSC's largest customer, by an employee. Sinovel subsequently stopped making payments to AMSC. The dispute caused a sharp deterioration in AMSC's business and market valuation and led to criminal proceedings against the employee, who later pleaded guilty to bribery charges. The episode became a defining event in the company's corporate history and highlighted the intellectual-property and customer-concentration risks associated with specialized industrial technology. AMSC has continued as a publicly traded energy-technology company, with activities spanning superconducting wire, grid systems, power electronics, wind technologies, and specialized power applications. Its present business structure and individual product offerings may change over time, so current details should be checked against the company's filings and official announcements.

• 2021

  Chicago resilient-grid system enters commercial service

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  AMSC and ComEd announced successful integration of a resilient electric-grid system using high-temperature-superconductor wire.

• 2011

  Sinovel intellectual-property crisis

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  The transfer of proprietary wind-control software to Sinovel was followed by the customer's payment stoppage, creating a severe commercial and financial crisis for AMSC.

• 2009

  Department of Energy development funding

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. Department of Energy announced funding to support AMSC's further development of superconducting electrical cables.

• 2008

  Holbrook Superconductor Project enters service

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  A superconducting transmission cable using AMSC wire entered service at a Long Island substation, using underground cable cooled with liquid nitrogen.

• 2001

  Detroit Edison superconducting-cable test

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  AMSC installed a test of a superconducting transmission cable at Detroit Edison's Frisbie substation.

• 1991

  Initial public offering

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  The company completed its initial public offering and became a publicly traded enterprise.

• 1987

  American Superconductor is founded

  [1]American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org

  Gregory J. Yurek founded American Superconductor with a team including Yet-Ming Chiang, David A. Rudman, and John B. Vander Sande, initially focusing on high-temperature superconducting materials and applications.

A specialist energy-technology provider applying superconductors, power electronics, and control systems to grid resilience, transmission, renewable-energy integration, wind power, and other demanding electrical applications.

• Superconducting materials

  High-temperature superconducting wire

  Wire based on high-temperature-superconductor materials for power-transmission, grid-resilience, and other advanced electrical applications. Compared with copper conductors, superconducting wire can provide substantially greater current capacity in suitable systems, although installations generally require specialized cooling and engineering.

• Grid infrastructure

  Superconducting transmission cables

  Underground or otherwise engineered power cables using high-temperature-superconductor wire. AMSC's projects have addressed high-capacity transmission, grid resilience, and dense urban or constrained electrical infrastructure where compact conductors may be valuable.

• Electrical machinery

  Superconducting motors and generators

  High-power motor and generator technologies that use superconducting components to pursue high power density and specialized performance. AMSC demonstrated a 36.5-megawatt high-temperature-superconductor motor for the U.S. Navy and also developed a large wind-turbine generator concept.

• Power systems

  Grid solutions

  Grid-oriented systems combining superconducting wire, power electronics, controls, and engineering. Applications include transmission, renewable-energy integration, grid protection, power quality, and resilience against selected electrical or physical hazards.

• Wind-power technology

  Wind solutions

  Wind-industry technologies developed through AMSC and AMSC Windtec, including turbine controls, power-conversion systems, generator designs, and related engineering capabilities for wind-turbine manufacturers and energy projects.

• Grid resilience · 2021

  Resilient Electric Grid system

  A grid-resilience system using high-temperature-superconductor technology to support reliability, resilience, and performance in electric networks. A commercial installation with ComEd in the Chicago area was announced as successfully integrated in 2021.

• 2011

  Sinovel wind-control software controversy

  A Serbian employee of American Superconductor sold or transferred proprietary wind-turbine control software to Sinovel, a major Chinese customer, after receiving a bribe. Sinovel then stopped payments to AMSC, producing a serious commercial crisis. The employee later pleaded guilty to bribery charges.

  Source

Read more

• 2021

  Commercial integration of the Chicago resilient-grid systemProduct launch

  Background

  Electric utilities face reliability and resilience risks from severe hazards, including disturbances that can affect critical grid infrastructure.

  Action taken

  AMSC and ComEd integrated AMSC's resilient electric-grid system using high-temperature-superconductor wire.

  Aftermath

  The system entered commercial service, while a larger second phase was reported to be under design.

  Source

• 2011

  Response to the Sinovel customer and intellectual-property crisisOther

  Background

  Proprietary wind-turbine control software was transferred to Sinovel by an employee, after which Sinovel stopped making payments to AMSC.

  Action taken

  The matter led to criminal proceedings against the employee and became the subject of corporate and legal responses concerning intellectual property and customer obligations.

  Aftermath

  AMSC suffered a major disruption to its wind business and a sharp loss in market value, but continued operating and developing grid and energy technologies.

  Source

• 2008

  Commissioning of the Holbrook superconducting cableProduct launch

  Background

  Long Island's electrical infrastructure provided a test case for applying high-temperature-superconductor cable to a production transmission system.

  Action taken

  AMSC wire was used in an underground cable of approximately 600 meters, cooled with liquid nitrogen, for the Holbrook Superconductor Project.

  Aftermath

  The project entered service in late June 2008 and became a prominent demonstration of superconducting transmission technology.

  Source

1. 1American Superconductoren.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Superconductor official websiteamsc.com