Superconducting Cable TESTED in Germany: It's coming!

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

The Munich electricity grid holds a new world record. A 150-meter-long superconducting cable has been in operation there since October. This is not only unique, but perhaps just the beginning of something even bigger. Because if this prototype survives the six-month test phase, the world's first commercial high-voltage superconductor could follow next year - this time even 15 kilometers long. Munich is set to become a pioneer and international role model for grid expansion and the energy transition in large cities.

And because this development is so striking, let's take a look: What potential does the superconductor cable have, how does it work and where might it currently still be stuck?

This video was created by my editorial team. Responsible from the editorial team: Carlotta Mevert, Florian Krupka, Jacob Beautemps; Editing: Aron Kamenz, Sören Rensch, Neo Sanjuan Thiele

Chapter:
00:00 World record for Munich!
00:52 Super.... what?
01:32 How the project works
05:49 Use case: Power grids
09:00 The superconductor project in Munich
11:11 The big Problem
13:57 Conclusion


Sources:
(1) https://www.swm.de/unternehmen/presse/pressemitteilungen/2024/10-2024/swm-supralink
(2) https://www.energieforschung.de/de/aktuelles/news/2024/superlink-hochspannungssupraleiter-im-testbetrieb
(3) https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/schwerpunkte-der-bundesregierung/nachhaltigkeitspolitik/bezahlbare-und-saubere-energie-1581908
(4) https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Parlamentarische-Anfragen/2023/11/20-8847.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4
(5) https://www.enargus.de/search/?q=03EN2036
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(11) in contact with Mathias Noe (KIT)
(12) in contact with Annett Urbaczka (Press Spokeswoman Westenergie)
(13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gFUwGedayw
(14) https://global-sei.com/technology/tr/bn59/pdf/59-2.pdf
(15) https://www.energieforschung.de/de/aktuelles/news/2020/superlink-innovatives-hochtemperatursupraleiter-konzept-in-muenchen
(16) https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2020/10/23/forschungsprojekt-superlink
(17) https://www.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/mntf/physik/facilities/helium/
(18) https://www.weltderphysik.de/gebiet/materie/supraleiter/
(19) https://www.nonmet.mat.ethz.ch/education/courses/ceramic2/Kap8_2009.pdf
(20) https://people.physik.hu-berlin.de/~mitdank/dist/scripten/diamagnetismus.htm
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(22) https://ivsupra.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Transformer-Magazine_SuperLink-140521.pdf