Attack-Proof Power Line to be Installed Under NY

Podcaster writes "American Superconductor Corporation and Con Edison have announced a joint effort to develop and deploy a new system that utilizes high temperature superconductor power cable technology in Con Edison's grid in New York City. The project, called Project Hydra, will aim to establish 'Secure Super Grids' that can withstand extreme weather and terrorist attacks."

Comments

smekel666

[User 956]

The project, called Project Hydra, will aim to establish 'Secure Super Grids' that can withstand extreme weather and terrorist attacks.

But will it survive human error and project mismanagement? I think not.

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[Podcaster]

The superconductor cable is expected to cost nearly $40 million, funded in part by the US Dept of Homeland Security.

That's rich -- toss in a reference to terrorism into the bid, and you get federal dollars for your project. Lame... and expensive.

However, I think the grid's greatest enemy is it's own users. This country is too power hungry.

I tend to agree with you. I'm not sure that this system addresses any part of the power infrastructure that might actually be vulnerable to human attack. Natural disasters are fine, but have any NYC blackouts in recent decades been caused by nature, or have they all been SNAFU?

-P

Sheer genius

[Anonymous Coward]

Because nothing says "fault tolerance" better than a requirement to keep 40 miles of wire at -400F.

Re:Reasons why NYC needs 'Team Hydra'

[jandrese]

I don't work in the industry, but I have to say that $40M for a long haul power line sounds pretty cheap, especially when you give it the old anti-terr'ism spin. Personally, I'm impressed that they can run a cryogenic cable underneath NYC that cheaply.