Monday, September 19, 2005

Energy

Mining plant looks to American Superconductor for stable power

American Superconductor Corp. of Westborough has closed an order for three of its Dynamic VAR voltage regulation systems. The units will be installed in the Canadian mining facility of an unnamed global company. Financial terms were not released.

The D-VAR systems, each of which is rated at 12 mega-volt-amperes reactive, will manage demanding voltage conditions to improve the reliability and quality of electric power needed to increase industrial productivity. American Superconductor expects to ship the D-VAR systems in the third and fourth quarter of its fiscal 2006.

According to industry experts, voltage sags lasting less than two seconds cause more than 90 percent of plant shutdowns, which can last from hours to days and require costly repairs of damaged equipment and loss of product.

American Semiconductor has also installed its D-VAR at several wind farms across North America, including a recent deployment at the Kingsbridge Wind Power project, located near Goderich, Ontario, on the northern shore of Lake Huron.

American Semiconductor stock was trading at press time at $10.93 up 16 cents from yesterday's close.