Extra March, 2010

Date of Issue: March 1, 2010

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What’s New in the World of Superconductivity(January, 2010)

Akihiko Tsutai, Director
International Affairs Division, ISTEC

Conference
ivSupra (January 13, 2010)
ivSupra has announced that a second conference on “Future and Innovation of Energy Technology
with High-temperature Superconductor” will be held from March 16 to 17, 2010, at the “BonnerWasserwerk” conference center (in German language). At the conference, experts from researchorganizations and industry will outline the present status of superconductor technologies and explain theiradvantages with regard to energy efficiency, focusing on modern network technology utilizing
superconductors. Specific topics will include a new electric power network study and recent practicalexperiences with middle and high-voltage superconducting cables, as well as innovative fault current limitersystems. In addition, the conference will include lectures on the production of superconducting wire and thebroad spectrum of superconductor applications. Examples of the successful application of superconductor
technology to the metal industry (German Environment Award 2009) and to ship propulsion will also bedemonstrated. The conference is organized and sponsored by the Industrieverband Supraleitung e.V. , theKarlsruhe Instutute of Technology (KIT) and the project agency Jülich (PtJ), with support from the German
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technologies. For further information, please visit www.ivsupra.de.
Source:“More energy efficiency with Superconductivity”
ivSupra press release (January 13, 2010)
http://www.ivsupra.de/images/stories/Presse/2010_01_ivs_ziehl_ii_final.pdf

PowerAmerican Superconductor Corporation (January 5, 2010)
American Superconductor Corporation(AMSC)’s wholly owned subsidiary AMSC Windtec™ hassigned a follow-on contract with Dongfang Turbine Co., Ltd. (China) to design and jointly develop 5-MW fullconversion wind turbines for the offshore wind power market. Wang Wei Min, vice general manager andchief engineer at Dongfang, commented, "We are happy to expand our relationship with AMSC and add
this higher-power, full conversion wind turbine to our portfolio to help meet the growing demand for clean,wind-generated electricity." Dongfang has exclusive rights to the 5-MW full conversion wind turbine designin China and plans to begin supplying these wind turbines to the worldwide offshore wind power market in2012. Greg Yurek, founder and chief executive officer of AMSC, commented, "Dongfang already has
established itself as one of China's largest wind turbine manufacturers and is poised for strong growth inExtra March, 2010

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2010 and beyond as it introduces its new 2.5 MW in the second half of this year and its 5 MW wind turbines
in the next two years. We are particularly pleased to see more and more of our customers become repeat
customers for new wind turbine designs. It is a validation of our advanced wind turbine technologies andsignals more growth for our customers and AMSC going forward."
Source:“AMSC Signs Contract to Develop 5 Megawatt Wind Turbines with China’s Dongfang Turbine Co. Ltd.”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (January 5, 2010)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86422&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1370610&highlight
Zenergy Power plc (January 7, 2010)
Zenergy Power plc and its industrial partner Bültmann GmbH have received their first repeat order
for a Magnetic Billet Heater (MBH) from their very first customer, Weseralu GmbH & Co. KG, bringing thetotal number of units sold in the past six months to three. Weseralu’s previous installation of asuperconductor MBH reportedly enabled a 50 % reduction in energy consumption while simultaneously
enabling a 25 % increase in productivity. Weseralu has also stated that it has been impressed with theMBH’s low maintenance requirements, superior heating quality, and versatile operation. The proveneconomic and operational advantages of the superconductor MBH have prompted Weseralu to replace thelast of their conventional heaters with a superconductor heater a mere 18 months after its installation of theworld’s first industrial-scale machine based on superconductors. Dr. Jens Mueller, CEO of Zenergy Power,commented, “This order is of huge significance to the Group and is a particularly satisfying win. There are
no greater endorsements of a new technology than either the repeat business of an early customer or thecomplete replacement of an incumbent solution. In this instance we have both; and this clearly
demonstrates the disruptive and game changing nature of our superconductor technology. The economic
payback on our machines can be less than one year and I am particularly pleased to see that our first
customer has realized the benefits of this and made the decision to purchase a further machine so soonafter their initial order.”Source:“Magnetic Billet Heater: Repeat Order”
Zenergy Power plc press release (January 7, 2010)
http://www.zenergypower.com/images/press_releases/2010/2010-01-07-MBH-Repeat-Order.pdf
American Superconductor Corporation (January 11, 2010)
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received a new D-VAR system order fromXiamen Red Phase Instruments Inc. (China). The devices will be used to increase the reliability of a portionof the power grid operated by China Southern Power Grid Company Ltd. AMSC expects to deliver theD-VAR system to Red Phase by the end of July 2010. The order represents the second sale of a D-VAR
system to Red Phase and the fourth power grid order from China in the last 12 months. Additionally, AMSC
has named Red Phase as a channel partner for the power grid market in southern China.
Source:“AMSC Receives Fourth D-VAR® System Order for Power Grid in China”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (January 11, 2010)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86422&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1373321&highlight

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Zenergy Power plc (January 13, 2010)
Zenergy Power plc has announced that Honeywell Specialty Materials has qualified as anindustrial-scale supplier of the specialist chemicals required for the mass production of second-generation(2G) superconductor wire. The qualification of Honeywell is a significant step in Zenergy’s plans to reducethe cost of superconductor wire dramatically by adopting a patented “all-chemical” continuous production
process. The qualification of Honeywell also ensures that Zenergy will be able to scale its all-chemical
process using a secured supply of the necessary chemicals without comprising the consistency or quality of
the resulting 2G wire. The qualification of Honeywell is part of a previously announced Joint Development
Agreement between the two companies with the aim of establishing a secure supply of industrial-scalequantities of chemical precursors for Zenergy Power, forming a basis from which the working relationshipbetween these two companies may deepen as the production of 2G wire is further scaled up.
Source:“2G Qualification of Honeywell”
Zenergy Power plc press release (January 13, 2010)
http://www.zenergypower.com/images/press_releases/2010/2010-01-13-2G-Qualification-of-Honeywell.pdf
Zenergy Power plc (January 21, 2010)
Zenergy Power plc has received its first commercial order for a superconductor fault current limiter(FCL) from Applied Superconductor Limited (U.K.). The first ever order for a medium-voltage FCL will be
installed in the distribution network of CE Electric UK in the second-half of 2010. The order is particularly
noteworthy as it means that Zenergy’s FCLs are now on course for installation in two geographical markets,
Western Europe and the United States, that are widely acknowledged to require unprecedented levels ofgrid investment. Dr. Jens Mueller, CEO of Zenergy Power, commented, “Growing electricity consumption isputting considerable strain on grid infrastructures around the world. Our FCL is a proven alternative toupgrading grid equipment and is between one half to just one eighth of the cost. This considerable saving iscompelling and of considerable interest to all utility companies and grid operators regardless of theirgeographical location. A commercial reality demonstrated by the fact that, although we have carried out themajority of our FCL-development work in the United States we achieved our first commercial sale in Europe.
Growing power demands and renewable energy generation are global trends that are driving a global FCLmarket.”
Source:“First Commercial Sale of Fault Current Limiter”
Zenergy Power plc press release (January 21, 2010)
http://www.zenergypower.com/images/press_releases/2010/2010-01-21-First-Commercial-Sale-of-FCL.pdfZenergy Power plc (January 22, 2010)
Zenergy Power plc has successfully raised £20,040,000 (approximately £19,200,000 net ofexpenses) through the placing of 16,700,000 new ordinary shares of 1p each (Ordinary Shares) in theCompany (Placing Shares) at a price of 120p per Placing Share with numerous new and existing
institutional investors. The placing follows a notable strengthening of Zenergy’s target markets over the past
6 months, which has in turn driven a significant increase in commercial activity resulting in an order book for2010 of around €4.1 million. The proceeds from the placing will be used to 1) complete the development ofZenergy’s high-voltage FCL product (scheduled for installation in the electricity grid of American ElectricPower in late 2011), 2) complete the development of Zenergy’s “all-chemical” production technique for theExtra March, 2010

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Date of Issue: March 1, 2010

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mass-manufacture of low-cost superconducting wire, 3) expand commercial activities related to the sales
and marketing of medium and high-voltage FCL products in the United States and Europe, and 4) provide
additional working capital to support an anticipated increase in commercial orders for Magnetic Billet
Heaters products in 2010 and 2011. Upon their issue, the Placing Shares will rank pari passu in all respects
with the existing Ordinary Shares and have been allotted and issued credited as fully paid. Upon admission,Zenergy Power will have a total of 68,941,970 Ordinary Shares.
Source:“Institutional Placing to Raise £20,040,000”
Zenergy Power plc press release (January 22, 2010)
http://www.zenergypower.com/images/press_releases/2010/2010-01-22-Institutional-Placing.pdf
American Superconductor Corporation (January 26, 2010)
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received an initial order for 100 sets of windturbine core electrical components from XJ Group Corporation (China). The components will be utilized in
the 2-MW doubly fed induction wind turbines that XJ Group is co-developing with AMSC Windtec™, awholly owned subsidiary of AMSC. XJ Group completed the construction of its first 2-MW wind turbine inDecember 2009 and has also completed the construction of a new wind turbine manufacturing plant withan annual capacity of 1000 MW. XJ Group is the third AMSC Windtec customer to begin the volume
production of wind turbines in China. Li Fusheng, president of XJ Group, commented, "AMSC Windtec has
provided a broad scope of services to XJ Group that has helped us build a strong foundation for our newwind turbine manufacturing business. We are proud to enter production with our 2 MW wind turbines just 15
months after beginning to work with AMSC Windtec, and we see great opportunities ahead in the Chinese
wind power market."
Source:“China’s XJ Group Orders Initial 100 Sets of Wind Turbine Core Electrical Components from AMSC”
American Superconductor Corporation press release (January 26, 2010)
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86422&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1378894&highlight

MagnetGE Global Research (January 27, 2010)
GE Global Research, the technology development arm for the General Electric Company, hasreceived a four-year, $3.27 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop cryogen-freemagnets that will make magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems less costly and easier to site. Minfeng
Xu, Principal Investigator on the MRI magnet project from GE Global Research, explained, “The use ofcryogenic liquids limits where MRI systems can be placed today, and we want to change that so more
people around the world can have access to this vital diagnostic imaging technology. By developing acryogen-free magnet, we can reduce the overall size, cost and siting requirements of new MRI systems andmake them easier to site in areas where the infrastructure is not as well-developed.” The successful
development of the proposed magnet technologies will enable MRI systems with cost and sitability
requirements compared to today’s low-cost permanent magnet systems (with a magnetic field of 0.2 – 0.35T), but with a high magnetic field (1.5 – 3.0 T) and excellent image quality.
Source:Extra March, 2010

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1-10-13 Shinonome Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0062, Japan Tel:+81-3-3536-7283, Fax:+81-3-3536-7318“GE Working to Expand Access of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Systems to UnderdevelopedRegions”
GE Global Research press release (January 27, 2010)
http://www.genewscenter.com/Press-Releases/GE-Working-to-Expand-Access-of-Magnetic-Resonance-I
maging-MRI-Systems-to-Underdeveloped-Regions-2530.aspx

Cryocooler
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (January 28, 2010)
Under a multi-university grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, a team of researchers
from the University of New Mexico, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the University of Pisa (Italy)
has developed an all-solid-state cryocooler for airborne and spaceborne applications. The technology isexpected to enable advances in the miniaturization of superconducting electronics. Dr. Mansoor
Sheik-Bahae, a professor at the University of New Mexico and the project’s leader, commented, "Opticalrefrigeration or solid state optical refrigeration technology offers many advantages over currently used, bulky
mechanical coolers because it is vibration free (no moving parts), compact, lightweight and agile (fastturn-on and off).” Using the new cryocooler, the team was able to reach a cooling temperature of 155 K.
Further material research is expected to enable cooling to even lower temperatures, possibly as low as 10K.
Source:“Optical refrigeration expected to enhance airborne and spaceborne applications”
Air Force Office of Scientific Research press release (January 28, 2010)
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123187569

Communication
Hypres Inc. (January 28, 2010)
Hypres Inc. has announced the successful transition of its SQUID array antenna application to theSmall Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase III level, with a new contract valued at nearly US $3
million. Hypres will collaborate with the US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSCPacific) to produce a high dynamic range Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) antenna with superior performanceand significant size, weight, and power improvements, compared with conventional antennas. Richard Hitt,
CEO of Hypres, commented, “We are very excited about our success in SQUID array technology and lookforward to working with our partners to transition it to mainstream weapon systems.”
Source:“Hypres Successfully Transitions SQUID Array Technology for Antenna Applications to SBIR Phase 3Contract”
Hypres Inc. press release (January 28, 2010)
http://www.hypres.com/

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BasicBrookhaven National Laboratory (January 7, 2010)
An international research team from the Brookhaven National Laboratory, Ames Laboratory, Iowa
State University, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University, and St. Andrew’s
University (Scotland) has discovered evidence of “electronic liquid crystal” states within the parentcompound of an iron-based, high-temperature superconductor. Importantly, because these findings are
similar to those observed in the parent state of cuprate superconductors, they suggest a common factor in
the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity between these otherwise very different materials.
The research was performed using a uniquely sensitive spectroscopic image-scanning tunnelingmicroscopy (STM) technique that enables the direct imaging of the arrangements of electrons in materials
and the exploration of electronic structures in crystals. Using this technique, the researchers were able toobserve static, nanoscale arrangements of electrons measuring about eight times the distance between
individual iron atoms and aligned along one crystal axis, similar to the spatial order observed in liquid
crystals. Furthermore, the electrons that were free to travel through the material did so in a direction
perpendicular to the above-mentioned alignment, indicating that the current-carrying electrons are distinct
from the electrons aligned in the electronic liquid crystal. Next, the group plans to observe how these
conditions affect the superconductivity of the material once it has been transformed into a superconductor.
The group’s findings were published in the January 8, 2010, issue of Science.
Source:“Electronic Liquid Crystal States Discovered in Parent of Iron-Based Superconductor”
Brookhaven National Laboratory press release (January 7, 2010)
http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/pr/PR_display.asp?prID=1061
Rice University (January 8, 2010)
Researchers from Rice University, the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Chinese Academy of Sciences'
Institute of Physics and Renmin University (Beijing, China) have examined several iron-arsenide
compounds used as undoped parent materials in the fabrication of iron pnictides and have concluded thatthe ability of the electrons to conduct electricity without resistance in these materials is directly connectedwith the magnetic properties of these electrons. Using neutron scattering, the group bombarded thematerials with neutrons to examine their structural and magnetic properties. The tests supported previous
theoretical predictions, confirming that the strength of the magnetic order in the materials was reduced
when arsenic atoms were replaced with slightly smaller phosphorus atoms. The results provide the firstdirect evidence that a magnetic quantum critical point exists in these materials. Qimiao Si, a physicist at
Rice University, commented, "The evidence from this study bolsters the hypothesis that high-temperature
superconductivity in the iron pnictides originates from electronic magnetism. This should be contrasted toconventional low-temperature superconductivity, which is caused by ionic vibrations." The group’s work waspublished in the January 8 issue of Physical Review Letters.
Source:“Study: Quantum fluctuations are key in superconductors”
Rice University press release (January 8, 2010)
http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=13532&SnID=1739118847
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