Monday, December 26, 2005

Energy

Air Force funds AMSC superconducting plant with nearly $13M

Westborough's American Superconductor Corp., a maker of alternative electricity systems, has been reimbursed almost $13 million by the U.S. Airforce for costs associated with a high-temperature superconducting factory planned for Devens.

The project, initiated by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, aims to establish a U.S.-based commercial production facility for second generation high temperature, yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) superconducting material by June of 2008.

Military and industrial applications for YBCO coated conductor include superconducting motors, generators, transmission cables, transformers, magnets, and fault current limiters. The military has expressed immediate interest in using the material in superconducting propulsion motors and generators for all-electric naval ships, as well as superconducting magnets used in directed energy weapons for ground and air vehicles, according to an Undersecretary of Defense project description.

AMSC stock opened the day at $7.87, down 8 cents from yesterday's close.