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$34.56 -3.88 (-10.09%)
7/23/2008 4:00 PM

American Superconductor Corp (AMSC)

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**

An energy technologies company, which offers an array of solutions based on two proprietary technologies: programmable power electronic converters and high temperature superconductor wires.

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Avatar taryntoo (29.00) Submitted: 12/25/07 1:35 AM : Outperform Start Price: $30.49 AMSC Score: 27.10

It's hard to know who's going to excel in the tightly contested solar, wind, tidal, geotherm, etc. power generation markets. But they all share a need for power regulation, charge control, and high efficiency magnetics.

AMSC will probably supply these markets.

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Avatar Rep07 (93.54) Submitted: 1/14/08 3:26 PM

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Everybody needs to keep in mind this very important, unavoidable fact which places permanent constraints on the scope and speed of commercialization of "hi-temp" superconductors:


YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM REFRIGERATED AT ** LIQUID NITROGEN ** TEMPERATURES.


No matter what the application, the need for insulated, liquid-nitrogen infrastructure to support the product, and the attendant costs and safety hazards (lose coolant and the supercurrent turns instantly into HEAT--as in, the whole device can blow!) will always create challenges to the economy and "certifiability" of HTS systems--some of which will be insuperable challenges. For perspective, even if these things worked at home-refrigerator temperatures, cooling infrastructure and insulation would still be a major cost and reliability factor for any generator, motor, storage ring, or transmission element. So much so, that commercial viability would be limited. Imagine how much worse is it at the liquid-nitrogen level. If the liquid-nitrogen system on your HTS current-storage ring fails, the conductor can detonate like a bomb, taking out your lab or substation. It's an enormous incentive for any potential buyer to find a less-risky solution with cheaper, tried-and-true technology, even if it's not the "ideal" solution.

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