Sizing and economic assessment for auxiliar components and grid connection of a MgB2-LH2 hybrid power cable

The successful integration in the transportation of two very different commodities, namely electricity and liquid hydrogen LH2, in hybrid cables requires several auxiliary components, including storage tanks for hydrogen before and after terminal points, current leads designed for the efficient coupling and decoupling of current-cryogen flow within the transmission line, a pumping system to ensure the effective circulation of the cryogenic fluid and grid connections from the electric power production plant to the grid through the superconducting cable. These components significantly impact on the overall cost structure and are crucial for the potential market adoption of the technology. This study focuses the dimensioning of the auxiliary components through an evaluation of their thermal-hydraulic parameters, followed by an assessment of their effects on overall costs and economic viability. The reference case study is a 30 km-long MgB2 cable, capable of transmitting 10 kA at 30 kV of voltage, cooled by 20 K-liquid hydrogen. This provides essential insights into the potential scalability and sustainability of the proposed system.