California-based Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) (Nasdaq; SCON) provides high performance infrastructure products for wireless voice and data applications, as well as thin-film deposition techniques and cooling technologies. The company today announced a joint effort with the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), an arm of the Department of Energy (DOE), to use STI’s market knowledge for power transmission lines.

The LANL is a research institution focused on strategic science to enhance national security by ensuring the United States’ nuclear stockpile is safe and reliable. The institution’s role includes the development of technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, as well as solve problems associated with energy, environment, infrastructure, health and global security.

STI and LANL will combine STI’s high-temperature superconductor (HTS) material’s expertise with LANL’s research to create HTS-coated conductors for power transmission lines. The goal is to replace copper power lines with superconducting cables to increase capacity and reduce cable loss, ultimately strengthening the efficiency and reliability of electricity distribution networks.

STI and LANL will jointly present their studies at the DOE’s 2008 Annual Superconductivity for Electric Systems Peer Review July 29-31 in Arlington, Virginia. There, they will deliver presentations and discuss the research, development and testing of prototype HTS power system applications. Dr. Vladimir Matias of LANL and Dr. Brian Moeckly of STI will each deliver presentations respectively entitled the Progress in Reactive Coevaporation on IBAD, and Growth of YBCO Thin Films by Reactive Coevaporation, on July 30.

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