超伝導の夢 ─超伝導研究の最前線とその未来─

世界の電力網を抵抗ゼロの超伝導幹線ケーブルでつないでいく。太陽光発電に有利な乾燥地帯、風力発電に向いた極北など不毛な地方、そして電力消費地。地球の南北東西をつなぐと昼夜夏冬は無くなり、また、お天気も地球規模で平均化される。自然エネルギーの最大の欠点はお天気任せ、そして、適地での発電ができなかったことである。超伝導ネットワークは、そのコストを下げ、問題点を解決する。高温超伝導ケーブルの技術はその夢を現実にしてくれるレベルに近づいた。さらに、リニアモーターカーはそのような自然電力時代の高速輸送機関として最もふさわしい。

Every local electric power network will be linked by the superconducting cable, including the dry area and desolate windy polar area with cities of large consumption of electricity. Connecting east, west, south and north, no more then matter the day and night, nor summer and winter. The weather will be averaged out on the earth. The most serious problem with the sustainable energy resource has been its high cost due to the unreliable nature, depending totally on the weather. It has also been due to the fact that the natural energy favors the site rather far from the consumption area. The superconducting network will reduce the cost of the sustainable energy resources, solving most of the problems. The technology of the high temperature superconducting cable is now approaching to the new level, enabling us to make this dream the reality. The superconducting maglev train appears to be the best suited high speed transportation artery in the era of the global electric power network.