Superconductor magnetic bearing systems have many promising applications. A flywheel kinetic energy storage system incorporating superconductor magnetic bearings can be used for renewable energy storage from fluctuating sources such as the wind.
Most mechanical devices have bearings as important functional components.
Compared to conventional mechanical bearings, the superconductor magnetic bearing is superior in regard to its having an extremely low bearing loss but lacks stiffness to support sizable loads and operates only under cryogenic conditions. Thus, it fits naturally in deep space which is a cold vacuum and away from any significant source of gravity. Conditions on the Moon can provide a cold vacuum. The extensive presence of dust, which is a problem for conventional mechanical bearings, could also be mitigated by using wide gaps in superconductor magnetic bearings. The demand of extreme precision is met with the almost complete absence of friction in superconductor magnetic bearings.