Nexans Superconducting DC Cables Power Montparnasse Station Growth
On July 3, 2022, Nexans and its partners announced that they won a major project from Bpifrance, the French Public Investment Bank, to install two superconducting DC cables near Montparnasse station in Paris. This Nexans superconducting DC cables project marks a first-of-its-kind integration of such technology into a railway system and strengthens the power supply for one of France’s busiest stations.
Nexans Superconducting DC Cables Project Supports “Investments for the Future”
The Nexans superconducting DC cables project forms part of the French “Investissements d’Avenir” (Investments for the Future) initiative coordinated by SNCF Réseau, which manages the French rail network. For the first time, a rail operator will integrate superconducting DC cables into a rail network, and this installation will also become the first permanent deployment of this technology on any network in France. As rail traffic continues to grow in major cities, these high-performance power cables help secure and stabilize the network.
Meeting Montparnasse Station’s Rising Power Demand
Built in 1840, Montparnasse station ranks as France’s fourth-largest train station. It currently serves more than 50 million passengers annually and will likely exceed 90 million passengers by 2030. To manage this growth, SNCF Réseau needs additional electrical power to run more trains safely and reliably. Superconductor cable technology, provided by Nexans and its partners, delivers the higher power capacity required to meet this rising demand while using existing infrastructure.
The project team will install the superconducting cables inside the station’s existing conduits. This approach keeps civil works to a minimum and reduces disruption around the station. It also demonstrates how advanced cable technology can integrate into dense urban rail environments.
High-Power, Compact Superconducting Cable Performance
According to the project description, only a superconducting cable can combine a reduced diameter with very high power capacity to meet SNCF Réseau’s performance requirements. Each conduit will deliver up to 5.3 MW, or 3,500 A at 1,500 VDC. This compact yet powerful configuration allows Nexans and SNCF Réseau to avoid extensive infrastructure modifications, reduce implementation costs, and limit disruption to rail and road traffic. It also lowers risks related to installation timelines and the commissioning date.
Sustainability and Safety Benefits of Superconducting Power Cables
Superconducting power cables provide unique benefits because they operate with zero electrical resistance. As a result, they transport electricity with minimal power loss and support a more sustainable rail power system. Their compact nature allows the cables to deliver very high power through limited space, making them ideal for crowded rail corridors and urban stations.
In practical terms, a single superconducting cable can replace multiple conventional copper cables. This smaller footprint enables high‑capacity 1,500 V connections that improve the safety and reliability of the station’s power supply. Through this Nexans superconducting DC cables project, Paris sets a benchmark for how advanced power technologies can modernize rail infrastructure while supporting energy efficiency and long-term growth.
