July 30, 2025
Mark & Wedell (M&W) and SuperNode are proud to announce that M&W’s custom-engineered highcurrent leads have played a key role in SuperNode’s historic demonstration of a superconducting power cable using a polymeric cryostat—the first of its kind globally. This major milestone was achieved at SuperNode’s Superconducting Cable Technology Centre in Blyth, UK, and represents a leap forward for high-capacity, low-loss power transmission infrastructure. Superconducting cables can carry 5-10 times more energy in a single cable than conventional copper or aluminium cables. It is the first time ever that superconductivity is demonstrated using a polymer-based cryostat to cool a high-temperature superconductor in an electric cable.
The collaboration began in 2023, when SuperNode selected M&W to deliver a pair of Type CCT current leads for its prototype Direct Current superconducting cable. The design was finalised and optimised for superior thermal and electrical performance for a maximum of 25 kA, the electrical current level typically provided by a lightning strike. Delivery took place during Q2 2025, and the leads were commissioned in June 2025.
“This is a milestone for European clean energy innovation,” said Torben Ekvall, CEO of M&W. “To be part of the world’s first operational demonstration of this cable technology confirms that Mark & Wedell’s expertise is not only relevant in Big Science, but also in the emerging marked for commercial superconducting energy infrastructure such as SuperNode’s innovative power cable technology.”
M&W’s current leads were engineered with an integrated heat exchanger, ensuring efficient cryogenic operation and seamless integration with SuperNode’s proprietary smooth bore polymeric cryostat. Their performance under test conditions validated both the mechanical interface and thermal load control which is key to sustaining high current flow in a superconducting environment. The delivery included a monitoring and control system for the current leads.
SuperNode CEO John Fitzgerald said:
“Higher-capacity cables are an essential tool to enable grids to accommodate new electrification demand and renewable generation roll out. Inadequate grids are the number one barrier to decarbonisation. The contribution from M&W both as technology sparring partner and high-quality supplier, has been essential to demonstrate SuperNode’s next generation of superconducting power cables, enabling ultra-high transfer capacity, low visual impact and massive raw material savings.”
Over the past 25 years, Mark & Wedell has provided Big Science customers with current leads designed for currents ranging from 100 Amps (A) to 50,000 A. These customers include CERN, GSI, CEA and INFN etc. For the past few years, M&W has pursued a two-track strategy that on the one hand continues to deliver and develop products to the Big Science market, and on the other hand, pursues opportunities outside of Big Science, especially in the electricity transmission market and emerging Fusion market. The partnership with SuperNode is an important step in this direction and an excellent demonstration of our engineering capabilities.
SuperNode, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, specialises in developing superconducting cable systems for electricity distribution, transmission and industrial applications such as data centres. It holds a proprietary cable design technology that dramatically improves efficiency and installation ease over 1st generation superconducting cables.
November 12, 2025
Mark & Wedell has announced it has secured a significant contract to engineer and deliver state-of-the-art superconducting solutions for a key European fusion energy research project.
September 10, 2025
Through a strategic partnership, Mark & Wedell will integrate Faraday Factory Japan‘s cutting-edge REBCO 2G HTS tape into our superconducting current leads, powering the future of fusion energy.
July 30, 2025
Mark & Wedell (M&W) and SuperNode are proud to announce that M&W’s custom-engineered highcurrent leads have played a key role in SuperNode’s historic demonstration of a superconducting power cable using a polymeric cryostat—the first of its kind globally.