YBCO Superconductor Wire based on IBAD-Textured Templates and RCE of YBCO: Process Economics

High-temperature superconductor wire based on the YBa2Cu3Oy compound offers unprecedented performance that stands well above any other superconductor in terms of temperature and magnetic field of operation. We discuss a cost estimate model for production of coated conductors based on ion-beam–assisted deposition (IBAD) of MgO and reactive co-evaporation (RCE) of YBCO. Our results indicate that cost of coated conductors can be below $10/kAm already at 5000 km production volume of 4-mm superconductor wire, with 500 A/cm and 2 μm of YBCO. The total Ic/width is a key parameter for cost/performance of the coated conductor.