AMSC and Northrop Grumman Announce Successful Load Testing of 36.5 Megawatt Superconductor Ship Propulsion Motor
-Most Powerful Motor Ever Tested by U.S. Navy
-Motor Size and Weight Reduced by More Than 50%, Acoustic Signature Reduced, Efficiency Increased
-Superconductor Motors Ready for Deployment
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Jan. 13, 2009--
American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:
AMSC), a leading energy
technologies company, and
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)
announced today at the
Surface Navy Association's 21st National
Symposium the successful completion of full-power testing of the world's
first 36.5 megawatt (49,000 horsepower) high temperature superconductor
(HTS) ship propulsion motor at the U.S. Navy's Integrated Power System
Land-Based Test Site in
Philadelphia. This is the first successful
full-power test of an electric propulsion motor sized for a large Navy
combatant and, at 36.5 megawatts, doubled the Navy's power rating test
record.
This system was designed and built under a contract from the Office of
Naval Research to demonstrate the efficacy of HTS motors as the primary
propulsion technology for future Navy all-electric ships and submarines.
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) funded and led the successful testing
of the motor.
Incorporating coils of HTS wire that are able to carry 150 times the
power of similar-sized copper wire, the motor is less than half the size
of conventional motors used on the first two DDG-1000 hulls and will
reduce ship weight by nearly 200 metric tons. It will help make new
ships more fuel-efficient and free up space for additional warfighting
capability.
"The successful load test of our HTS motor marks the beginning of a new
era in ship propulsion technology," said Dan McGahn, senior vice
president and general manager of AMSC Superconductors. "This motor
provides the U.S. Navy with a truly transformational capability relative
to size, stealth, endurance and survivability, providing our Navy with a
clear performance advantage for years to come. We are grateful for the
steadfast support from the Office of Naval Research, Naval Sea Systems
Command and the Naval Surface Warfare Center."
AMSC and Northrop Grumman shared the work under a formal business
agreement, with AMSC serving as the prime contractor for the research
and development phase.
"HTS technology offers the Navy a power-dense propulsion solution, and
it will save money," said Donna Potter, director of the Development &
Integration business at Northrop Grumman'sSunnyvale, Calif.-based
Marine Systems business unit. "Whether the Navy uses the size and weight
savings to make ships lighter and more fuel-efficient, or to pack more
capabilities onto fewer ships, the end result is the same: more
capability for the warfighter at less cost to the taxpayer."
Earlier in 2008, the Navy successfully installed another HTS system - an
HTS degaussing coil - onboard the USS HIGGINS (DDG 76). Powered by
AMSC's HTS wire and magnet cable technology, the coil system will
undergo sea trials over the next two years onboard the HIGGINS. Similar
to the motor, degaussing coils utilizing HTS wire will significantly
reduce system weight for DDG 1000-class ships, landing platform dock
(LPD) ships, and for the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).
The Navy has invested more than $100 million in the development of HTS
technology, paving the way not only for use in Navy ships but also in
commercial vessels, such as cruise liners and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) tankers, which can also take advantage of the space and efficiency
benefits of HTS motors. To learn more about the advantages of HTS
motors, please visit AMSC in Booth #205 at the Surface Navy
Association's 21st National Symposium, taking place through January 15,
2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia. More
information can also be found at http://www.amsc.com/products/motorsgenerators/shipPropulsion.html.
HTS rotating machine technology is also being applied to the renewable
energy industry. Wind generator systems utilizing HTS wire instead of
copper wire are expected to be much smaller, lighter and more efficient
than current systems. This will lower the cost of wind-generated
electricity - particularly for offshore wind farms.
About
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company
whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and
solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and
shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.
About
American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC)
AMSC is a leading energy technologies company offering an array of
solutions based on two proprietary technologies: programmable power
electronic converters and high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires.
The company's products, services and system-level solutions enable
cleaner, more efficient and more reliable generation, delivery and use
of electric power. AMSC is a leader in alternative energy, offering
licensed wind turbine designs and electrical systems. As the world's
principal supplier of HTS wire, the company is enabling a new generation
of compact, high-power electrical products, including power cables,
grid-level surge protectors, Secure Super Grids technology, motors,
generators, and advanced transportation and defense systems. AMSC also
provides utility and industrial customers worldwide with voltage
regulation systems that dramatically enhance power grid capacity,
reliability and security, as well as industrial productivity. The
company's technologies are protected by a broad and deep intellectual
property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses
worldwide. More information is available at www.amsc.com.
American Superconductor and design, Revolutionizing the Way the World
Uses Electricity, AMSC, Powered by AMSC, D-VAR, PQ-IVR, PowerModule,
Secure Super Grids, Windtec and SuperGEAR are trademarks or registered
trademarks of American Superconductor Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans and
prospects for the company, including our expectations regarding the
future financial performance of the company and other statements
containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects,"
"will" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties
regarding the company's ability to obtain anticipated funding from
corporate and government contracts, to successfully develop, manufacture
and market commercial products, and to secure anticipated orders; the
risk that a robust market may not develop for the company's products;
the risk that strategic alliances and other contracts may be terminated;
the risk that certain technologies utilized by the company will infringe
intellectual property rights of others; and the competition encountered
by the company. Reference is made to these and other factors discussed
in the "Risk Factors" section of the company's most recent quarterly or
annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In
addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release
represent the company's views as of the date of this release. While the
company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause
the company's views to change, the company specifically disclaims any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the
company's views as of any date subsequent to the date this press release
is issued.
CONTACT: American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC)
Jason Fredette, 978-842-3177
Director of Investor & Media Relations
jfredette@amsc.com
or
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Tom Delaney, 410-993-6454
Thomas.delaney@ngc.com
Source: American Superconductor Corporation
