The superconducting motors and generators are a particularly interesting solution for electric propulsion and power generation. These superconducting devices are used to obtain power and torque and mass volume very high. Moreover, the high efficiency of these machines, making them attractive in terms of saving energy. One goal is to find new structures of superconducting machines or optimizing existing ones. One of technical challenges that are superconducting windings must be cooled to a few tens of Kelvin and connected to transmit torque to the outside environment at room temperature with minimal heat loss. Among all the achievements we may distinguish several major areas of power. Firstly, there are small machines with a capacity below 10 kilowatts. It is essentially built laboratory prototypes in academia to study all topologies engines imaginable and validate the principles of operation. In addition, there are machines whose power is between 10 and 100 kilowatts. These machines are intermediate between machines laboratory and industrial demonstrations. Their power, relatively large, validates technical solutions and explore topologies machine outside the box. Then there motors or alternators superconducting high power. These projects cover all industrial demonstrations to check the feasibility of such large-scale machinery and possibly locate a site of use. It is possible to replace the copper windings of an inductor by son superconductors. But another solution exists: to manufacture superconducting magnets. In the first case, we have high capacity power transmission son of superconductors, in the second case, we use the capacity of superconducting materials massive trap magnetic fields. It is necessary to compare the performance of these two types of inducers. Among the problems, there is the need to magnetize the superconducting materials in situ. The behavior of the superconducting magnet when subjected to a magnetizing field is one of the crucial points. One issue for the project we propose is to check if it is possible to induce a superconductor with superconducting magnets and compare it with an inductor designed with superconducting son. This industrial research project is divided into two parts: a very practical approach aimed at integrating conductive elements according to precise specifications in an electric motor sized target pre purposes of demonstration and validation, then a forward-looking approach aimed at use these results on devices larger machines or rotating at high speed. These efforts also aim to assess the potential of materials and their impacts on topology machines and associated cryogenic systems.

The WISSTITWIN project aims at the development of an integrated network of smart sensors within an electrical machine, that will constantly stream data in order to update the numerical model of the electrical machine, known as its ‘digital twin’. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have access to a numerical model that is constantly updated through physical multi-parameters measurements provided by a network of sensors integrated in the real machine. For this purpose, we need reliable sensors that are compatible with an integration in low space and harsh environments, along with a reliable communication for data streaming. Thus, the project will exploit the combination of advanced functional materials and Surface Acoustic Wave technology to build batteryless and wireless multiphysics sensors with performances adapted to these constraints. A demonstrator of an electrical machine with several distributed sensors for temperature, stress, and magnetic field will be developed, along with its digital twin.

EcoSwing aims at world's first demonstration of a superconducting low-cost, lightweight drive train on a modern 3.6 MW wind turbine. EcoSwing is quantifiable: The generator weight is reduced by 40% compared to commercial permanent magnet direct-drive generators (PMDD). For the nacelle this means a very significant weight reduction of 25%. Assuming series production, cost reduction for the generator can be 40% compared to PMDD. Finally, reliance on rare earth metals is down by at least two orders of magnitude. This demonstration is enabled by the increasing maturity of industrial superconductivity. In an ambitious step beyond present activities, EcoSwing will advance the TRL from 4-5 to 6-7. We are shifting paradigms: Previously, HTS was considered for very big, highly efficient turbines for future markets only. By means of cost-optimization, EcoSwing targets a turbine of great relevance already to the present large-scale wind power market. The design principles of EcoSwing are applicable to markets with a wide range of turbine ratings from 2 MW to 10 MW and beyond. Despite technological successes in superconductivity, turbine manufacturers and generator suppliers are hesitant to apply HTS into the wind sector, because of real and perceived risks. The environment inside a wind turbine has unique requirements to generators (parasitic loads and moments, vibration, amount of independent hours of operation). Therefore, a demonstration is required. The consortium represents a full value chain from materials, over components, up to a turbine manufacturer as an end-user providing market pull. It features competent partners on the engineering, the cryogenic, and the power conversion side. Also ground-based testing before turbine deployment, pre-certification activities, and training are included. EcoSwing can become tangible: The EcoSwing demonstrator will commence operation in 2018 on an existing very modern 3.6 MW wind turbine in Thyborøn, Denmark.

The general objective of sHYpS is to support the decarbonisation of the shipping industry, by leveraging on previous and on-going work and investment made by Viking and some consortium members. It will develop a hydrogen-based solution, which can be adapted to multiple types of vessels and in some cases can already achieve IMO’s target for 2030 and 2050. The project will develop a (i) novel hydrogen storage intermodal 45’ ISO c-type container, (ii) the complete detailed design of modular containerised powertrain based on optimised PEM Fuel Cells and (iii) their dedicated logistics. On one hand the project will define a logistic based on swapping pre-filled containers, on the other hand it will define a perspective scale-up of the storage capacity and the supply applied to the Port of Bergen use-case. This will allow to kick start a supply-chain without waiting for the full infrastructure to be in place. We show how this approach can already support a remarkable part of the vessels in the EU waters. The project will use the window of opportunity of 1 Viking’s newbuilds Ocean Cruise vessel to install the storage system onboard with the complete gas handling and energy management system and test it during the shakedown cruise by 2026, with a limited power Fuel Cell. When the 6MW will be in place (pendent investment decision by Viking) this will allow to cut 50% of emissions in a 14 days fjord cruise. The midterm outcomes are remarkable, since Viking has a building program of 6 Ocean Cruise ships by 2030 and several river ships. With the right logistics in place the ISO container technology can develop in hundreds of units per year. In the meantime, the upscaled design of the container from this project will approach more segments in sea and IWW application and look to hundreds of vessels in the order book of commercial fleets. The value-chain include LH2 suppliers, giving the opportunity to speed up a supply of thousands tons of LH2 per year in the next 20 years.

Soft magnetic materials, made from stack of steel sheets separated by insulating layers, are becoming crucial in the various end-user industries and applications based on magnetic components and machines (transformers, sensors, actuators, motors, generators …). Experts estimate that the growth rate of soft magnetic materials will improve by 7.8% annually in the coming years! However, the technology used to manufacture steel sheets causes huge energy losses (called iron losses in addition to copper and mechanical losses) and noise (due to induced stresses and vibrations). ESSIAL will use laser surface texturizing in order to improve the performance and functionalities of laminated magnetic circuits, while preserving a high mechanical and thermal resistance. In addition, the improved materials will be eco-friendly (no emission of pollutant during their working life); and made of materials that are easy to recycle. At the end of this four-year project, the ESSIAL consortium aims to: - Decrease iron losses due to magnetic reversal processes by 20% (namely the excess magnetic losses). - Control and decrease mechanical vibrations and acoustic noise by 20%. - Make the deposition/removal of insulating layer easier for sustainable manufacturing process chains. - Integrate new laser processes with maximum 10% price increase - Implement innovative and unconventional technologies along the European manufacturing value chain. - Transfer the ESSIAL technology to European clusters and companies. Achieving these goals will help Europe reaching the objectives of the energy transition agenda, while strengthening European industrial base. The ESSIAL consortium is composed of research centres and companies that cover the whole value chain of soft magnetic materials, with all necessary resources to carry-out the project. The project includes seven Work-Packages, ranging from manufacturing processes to up-scaling for mass production and dissemination.