-Basin Electric Power Cooperative Adopts D-VAR STATCOM to Further Enhance Power Grid Reliability in Wyoming
-At 34 MVAR Continuous Rating, Installation to be One of the Largest STATCOMs in North America

DEVENS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2009--American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC), a leading energy technologies company, today announced that it has received an order for its D-VAR ("STATCOM") reactive compensation solution from Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric), one of the largest

electric generation and transmission cooperatives in the United States.

AMSC will deploy the turnkey D-VAR solution near Wright, Wyoming. Basin Electric will utilize the D-VAR system to provide steady state and transient voltage support to maintain transmission system stability and reliability in the region. It will have a continuous rating of 34 mega-volt-amperes reactive (MVAR) and a short-term rating of 91 MVAR, making it one of the largest STATCOMs ever deployed in the North American transmission grid. The system is expected to be operational in Basin Electric's power grid by the end of calendar 2009.

D-VAR reactive compensation systems are classified as Static Compensators, or "STATCOMs," a member of the FACTS (Flexible AC-Transmission System) family of power electronic solutions for alternating current (AC) power grids. They are able to detect and instantaneously compensate for voltage disturbances by dynamically injecting leading or lagging reactive power into the power grid. AMSC

has received orders for over 60 STATCOM power grid solutions worldwide, more than all other manufacturers combined. The company's STATCOM customers include more than 20 electric utilities and 40 wind farms.

AMSC's D-VAR system was designed with flexibility in mind to address the many voltage and VAR-related problems seen on the grid. Electric utilities adopt these systems to avoid voltage collapse on transmission and distribution lines, increase power transfer through stability-limited systems, reduce the use of (or retire) reliability-must-run generators and mitigate industrial voltage transients. Wind farm developers adopt D-VAR solutions to meet the stringent power grid requirements being adopted in an increasing number of locations around the world for dynamic voltage regulation, power factor correction and post-contingency assistance at wind farms.

To learn more about AMSC's D-VAR solution, please visit http://www.amsc.com/products/transmissiongrid/reactive-power-AC-transmission.html.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. It generates and transmits electricity to 126 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.6 million consumers. Learn more about Basin at http://www.basinelectric.com/

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

Source: American Superconductor Corporation