A group of French companies has partnered to develop a technology demonstrator based on superconductivity to enhance the electrical connection capacities of offshore wind farms. The project, named SupraMarine, aims to explore an alternative to conventional direct current connections by using cables cooled to extremely low temperatures.
The industrial partners include Air Liquide, Nexans, the electricity transmission system operator Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), ITP Interpipe and the engineering school CentraleSupélec. Together, they are focusing on a technology that allows current to flow without energy loss by eliminating electrical resistance, achieved at temperatures near absolute zero.
A technology rooted in fundamental research
The principle of superconductivity was discovered in 1911. When applied at industrial scale, it could enable cables to transmit large volumes of electricity with higher efficiency, particularly in remote offshore areas where wind farms are expanding. The cables would be cooled using liquid nitrogen, an area of expertise for Air Liquide, a key partner in the project.
The consortium believes this solution could deliver gains in compactness and energy performance, making the connection of more distant wind farms economically viable. In parallel, the project is also seen as a potential driver for structuring a French industrial sector around superconductivity, with strategic autonomy prospects for Europe in advanced electrical equipment.
Targeted public funding through France 2030
The development of the SupraMarine demonstrator is supported by €7.3mn ($7.73mn) in public funding under the France 2030 programme, managed by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe). Validation tests are scheduled by 2028. No specific site has yet been announced for the test system installation.
The technology remains at an experimental stage, and its viability on a commercial scale will depend on results obtained in the coming years. However, the stakeholders consider this approach could reshape offshore connection strategies in response to increasing distances between generation sites and consumption centres.
