Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§13477 High-temperature superconductivity program

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 134— - ENERGY POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IX— - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT › Part Part B— - Electricity Generation and Use › § 13477

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must run a 5-year program to develop electric power equipment that uses high-temperature superconductors. The near-term focus is making superconducting materials that carry more electrical current. The program will also build prototypes of major parts (motors, generators, transmission lines, transformers, magnetic energy storage), improve material performance at higher temperatures and in different magnetic fields, make wire-based prototypes that work at the highest possible temperatures with cryogenic cooling like nitrogen, help industry design cost-competitive efficient power systems, and create prototypes for both commercial and defense use. Congress authorized $21,900,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for later years, with funds coming from amounts authorized under section 13471(c).

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §13477

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall carry out a 5-year program, in accordance with section 13541 and 13542 of this title, on high-temperature superconducting electric power equipment technologies. Elements of the program shall include, but are not limited to—

(1)activities that address the development of high-temperature superconducting materials that have increased electrical current capacity, which shall be the emphasis of the program for the near-term;

(2)the development of prototypes, where appropriate, of the major elements of a superconducting electric power system such as motors, generators, transmission lines, transformers, and magnetic energy storage systems;

(3)activities that will improve the efficiency of materials performance of higher temperatures and at all magnetic field orientations;

(4)development of prototypes based on high-temperature superconducting wire, that operate at the highest temperature possible, and refrigeration systems using cryogenics such as nitrogen;

(5)activities that will assist the private sector with designs for more efficient electric power generation and delivery systems which are cost competitive with conventional energy systems; and

(6)development of prototypes that have application in both the commercial and defense sectors.

(b)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $21,900,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be necessary for subsequent fiscal years, to be derived from sums authorized under section 13471(c) of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 13477

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73