SuperNode Ltd
SN
SuperNode is a global technology company that develops superconducting cable systems for bulk power transmission.
ID: 865198434214-08
Lobbying Activity
7 Aug 2023
(Abstract) SuperNode Ltd finds the European Commissions intention to revise the regulation and the legal basis governing the Innovation Fund, including its complex eligibility criteria, is urgently needed. Many enabling technologies that are vital for delivering on Europes carbon mitigation and energy independence efforts do not fit the current criteria for funding, because these are biased towards the carbon intensive industries listed in the ETS Directive. The dual challenge of overhead line planning on land and technology deficiency of underground cable technology means that, there is a strong and urgent need for new innovative grid technologies to facilitate efficient, long-range transmission of onshore and offshore renewable electricity that can match overhead lines power capacity. There is strong need for applying far more flexibility in the evaluation criteria, which mandate detailed avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). These are almost impossible to assess in the case of enabling technologies such as innovative grid technology based on superconductors. The result is a sometimes arbitrary project and technology selection process that ignores the long term benefits and carbon reduction potential of many enabling technologies. Applying the GHG emission reduction criteria of Delegated Regulation 2019/856 simply does not return the needed thresholds with high enough confidence, because electricity grids are enabling technologies rather than carbon emitting technologies with emission reduction potentials such as for CCS and hydrogen technologies. Indeed, of the 3.1 billion allocated since 2020, 74% of total funding has gone to Hydrogen (24%) and CCUS (50%) Projects, while Renewables and Storage has only received a combined 18 % of funding. From SuperNodes perspective, there is an urgent need to adjust the evaluation criteria for electricity transmission. SuperNode therefore warmly welcomes the Commissions initiative to adjust the Delegated Act on the Innovation Fund, following the agreement on a revised ETS. SuperNode and others have suggested introducing a set of evaluation criteria that better fit enabling technology such as innovative electricity transmission projects - now included in the revised ETS Directive framework. The new draft Delegated Act does not remove the inappropriate GHG reduction criteria for grid technologies, but does go some way to address the concerns (see section 3). However, it still remains unclear how, for example, the new award paragraph 3 that has been added to Article 11 on award criteria, would impact evaluation of enabling technologies applications. SuperNode vehemently supports the proposed addition to Article 11 of the new paragraph 3, concerning award criteria. It could significantly enhance the potential applicability of the Innovation Fund to enabling technologies, if the Commission would be empowered to make sector specific calls or establish sector specific topics within a sector, with altered criteria. Ideally, SuperNode would have liked to see the introduction of, a new, additional Article (Article 11a) for enabling technologies such as Innovative Electricity transmission technology, that excludes the two existing GHG avoidance criteria (Article 11 1, (a) and (e)). Such a new, additional Article 11a could add alternative criteria as proposed in the Draft Act, while maintaining criteria (b), (c), and (d) for such a new group of enabling technologies? In the absence of a new, additional Article 11, specifically addressing Grid Technologies, SuperNode proposes that the formulation additional award criteria or requirements is by the formulation adjusted award criteria or requirements. This would provide additional clarity and strong signals to grid technology innovation companies.
Read full responseResponse to European Critical Raw Materials Act
30 Jun 2023
SuperNode welcomes the Critical Raw Materials Act proposed by the European Commission on 16 March 2023. It is vital that the EU identifies and secures delivery of all the raw materials that will be necessary for the transition to a fully decarbonised economy. According to the IEA, 152 million km of electricity transmission cable would be needed to meet the net zero target, requiring 427 million tons of copper or largely half of total global copper reserves, estimated at 870 million tons . If such an amount of copper were to be used for electricity transmission, there would not be enough to copper available for those wind turbines, batteries and other clean technologies needed for net zero. For comparison, a pan-European offshore DC transmission grid capable of integrating 450 GW of offshore wind capacity, would require 0.03% of global copper reserves, 0.0015% of global nickel reserves, 0.000009% of global rare earth reserves, and 0.0021% of global silver reserves. Copper can to some extent be substituted by aluminum. Nevertheless, many new, innovative solutions with significantly improved raw material use whether compared to copper or aluminum cables - are becoming commercially available this decade, including superconducting cables for long-range bulk transmission of power without energy losses. It is vital that Europe starts to actively integrating raw material resource use and circularity into the purchasing and tendering processes of large scale infrastructure projects such as power grids. Superconducting distribution grids are already commercially available and SuperNode is working on extending the scope and application of existing superconducting cable technology, developing long-distance, superconducting transmission technology that would be commercially available from around 2030. Superconducting electricity transmission reduces the materials use of energy transmission dramatically. To carry one kA one metre, superconducting cables requires 7 times less copper than conventional, copper-based power cables. Additionally, superconducting transmission technology will be able to transfer 5 or 6 times as much energy as conventional HVDC technology at a given voltage level. Alternatively, the technology can transfer the same amounts of energy at a much lower voltage level. This is associated with far fewer environmental impacts and raw materials use than conventional copper-based cable. Meanwhile, significant savings in materials would accrue from far smaller related infrastructure, e.g. from significantly smaller offshore collector stations needed in lower voltage systems. For example, a modern 2.4 GW, 525 kV offshore collector station weighs more than 15,000 tons and cost up to 1 billion. A collector station for a superconductor cable that can carry the same amount of energy would operate below 100 kV and weigh and cost about one third. Moreover, superconducting electricity transmission cables are far less sensitive to raw material price volatility. At the current price of copper ($9,000/tn), 70% of the cost of a conventional transmission cable is contributed to copper. For a superconducting cable with similar power transfer capability, copper is 7% of the cost. Thus, a 40% increase in the price of copper, would increase the total raw material cost of a copper cable by 47% per kilometre, whereas the raw material cost of a superconducting cable would increase by 5%. Approximately half the cost of a superconducting transmission cable is attributed to the high-temperature superconducting tape (HTS tape), which contains various raw materials including nickel, copper, silver, substrate, and rare earths. These are all characterized by a relatively abundant supply.
Read full responseResponse to Net Zero Industry Act
27 Jun 2023
SuperNode welcomes the European Commissions proposal for a regulation on measures for strengthening Europes net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act - NZIA). As a European developer of innovative breakthrough technology, vital for reaching Europes climate and energy independence objectives, SuperNode Ltd finds it vital that the European Union framework conditions for developing, demonstrating, and commercialising clean energy technology innovation and manufacturing are dramatically improved. SuperNode finds it crucial that the European Commissions proposal maintains its focus on the eight technologies suggested in Annex 1. Some proposals put forward by the European Parliament rapporteur, risk diluting the attention from the core purpose of the NZIA to establish the framework of measures for innovating and scaling up the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies in the Union, in order to provide an adequate response to the US Inflation Reduction Act. At a time when European clean tech manufacturers and technology developers such as SuperNode are being tempted by increasingly attractive framework conditions, not least in the United States, preserving the focus of the NZIA is essential for its ability to maintain Euroepan clean technology leadership in innovation and manufacturing. All pathways to meet Europes agreed 2050 decarbonisation target, would imply a 2040 energy system largely dependent on a fully decarbonised electricity supply, predominantly based on variable wind power and intermittent solar power. For such an energy system to materialise, Europe must start planning, demonstrating and deploying innovative grid enhancing technologies and advanced power cable technology, including superconducting cable systems, capable of moving massive amounts of electricity at no losses and with minimal use of critical raw materials. Electricity grids are enabling technologies that are vital for the rapid transition needed away from imported fossil fuels towards a decarbonised, indigenous energy supply, based predominantly on variable solar and wind. It is critical for European technology leadership that the proposals Article 26 on Innovative net-zero technologies and Regulatory Sandboxes is maintained. Diluting these technologies by including all SET-plan technologies, as suggested by some European Parliamentarians, would dilute the proposal and decrease efficiency and focus. Likewise, the Commissions proposed Article 3, which defines innovative net-zero technologies must be maintained. Defining Innovative Technologies according to the SET-plan would dramatically widen the scope for these innovative technologies as well. SuperNode proposes that a new article (for example New Article 26 (3) bis) is introduced to ensure that transmission and distribution system operators ensure that provisions are made for testing new, innovative grid technologies: For net-zero regulatory sandboxes established for Innovative net-zero Electricity grid technologies, Member States must ensure participation of relevant national TSOs and DSOs in overcoming any technical or administrative barriers to establishing the net-zero sandbox. Justification for this new Article 26 (3) bis is: Sandboxes will be needed to bring ensure that safe and reliable technology can be proven. Specifically for Innovative Grid Technologies, a mechanism is needed to secure positive engagement from TSOs and DSOs; There needs to be a transparent and non-discriminatory process whereby TSOs and DSOs are required to respond to requests for a sandbox project and engage in their successful implementation. Unlike renewable generation or supply side technology, grid technology does not aim to just connect with the grid - it aims to be part of the grid. To move power rather than to make or consume power. Therefore, innovative grid technology requires special attention;
Read full responseResponse to 2040 Climate Target Plan
23 Jun 2023
SuperNode welcomes the European Commissions intention to propose a Union-wide 2040 climate target in accordance with Article 4 of the EU Climate Law. In its call for evidence, the European Commission is right to highlight that Russias invasion of Ukraine has triggered the strategic vulnerability that comes with dependence on the use of fossil fuels, which is the main driver of climate change. The European Commission also correctly links the stabilisation of the worlds climate to our ability to end our reliance on fossil fuels, pointing out the need to step up the transition to clean energy, energy efficiency and climate neutrality in the EU. However, the need for modernising and establishing new, innovative electricity grid infrastructure to support the transition to decarbonisation seems hugely unappreciated. The call for evidence does not mention grids at all. On 15 June, the EUs advisory body on climate change - The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) presented its science based recommendation of achieving EU net emissions reductions of 90-95% before 2040, relative to 1990 levels . Such a reduction would require a doubling to more than 50 % of electricitys share of final energy demand. Renewable energy source, especially solar and wind (and excluding bioenergy) would be likely to meet more than 85% of electricity, according to ESABCC. All pathways to meet Europes agreed 2050 decarbonisation target, would imply a 2040 energy system largely dependent on a fully decarbonised electricity supply, predominantly based on variable wind power and intermittent solar power. For such an energy system to materialise, Europe must start planning, demonstrating and deploying innovative grid enhancing technologies and advanced power cable technology, including superconducting cable systems, capable of moving, massive amounts of electricity at no losses and with minimal use of critical raw materials. The International Energy Agency has already established that almost half of the 2050 reductions in greenhouse gasses must come from technologies that are currently at the demonstration or prototype phase. It would be prudent of Europe to provide rapid and meaningful support to those innovative technologies. The pathways to reach decarbonisation and the Unions growing ambitions (Green Deal, Fit For 55, REPowerEU, Net-Zero Industry Act) underscore the need for a realistic consultation framework that puts our future electricity transmission and distribution system at the centre of the analysis. Current recommends the development of reference grids for 2040, as well as for 2030 and 2050. The main reference grid should be the 2050 grid required for a decarbonized Europe and all intermediate reference grids must comply with the pathway and carbon budgets needed to reach the goals agreed by the European Climate Law (Regulation (EU) 2021/1119). For 2040, the TYNDP must reflect what is needed to reach European economy-wide decarbonization in 2050. For the electricity sector, that would require full decarbonization well before 2040. In addition, the infrastructure must be able to support the decarbonization through electrification of the heating, transport, and industrial sectors. No European grid model depicting the supporting grid infrastructure needed to reach our climate and energy targets currently exist, including the ten-year network Development Plan (TYNDP). SuperNode suggest that such a grid plan with decarbonisation reference grids, that are compatible with the carbon budgets, is developed for the European Commission, by an independent agency in an open and transparent process, for example the Joint Research Centre.
Read full responseMeeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director-General Climate Action)
11 May 2023 · Supernode presented its new technology under development for long distance, zero resistance power transmission and its further development plans, including the possibility of an application to a future Innovation Fund call.
Response to Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001
21 Sept 2020
SuperNode welcomes this consultation and encourages the promotion of increased renewable energy targets for all sectors of the EU.
Read full responseResponse to Offshore renewable energy strategy
13 Aug 2020
PLease find feedback attached
Read full responseMeeting with Carlos Moedas (Commissioner) and
4 Mar 2019 · Renewable energy