Superconducting medium-voltage cables, based on HTS and MgB2 materials, have the potential to become the preferred solution for energy transmission from many renewable energy sites to the electricity grid. Onshore HTS cables provide a compact design, which preserves the environment in protected areas and minimizes land use in urban areas where space is limited. Offshore HTS cables compete on cost and – compared to conventional HVDC cables – have the clear benefit of eliminating the need for large and costly converter stations on the offshore platforms. MgB2 cables in combination with safe liquid hydrogen transport directly from renewable energy generation sites to e.g., ports and heavy industries, introduce a new paradigm of two energy vectors used simultaneously in the future. Both HTS, cooled with liquid nitrogen, and MgB2, cooled with liquid hydrogen, MVDC superconducting cables will be designed, manufactured, and tested, including a six-month test for the MgB2 cable. For grid protection, a high-current superconducting fault current limiter module will be designed and tested. Furthermore, the technology developments will be supported by techno-economic analyses, and a study of elpipes, large cross-section conductors for high-power transfer, will be performed. The superconductor technology developments will accelerate the energy transition towards a low-carbon society by the direct key impacts of the project: • 30% LCOE reduction for offshore windfarm export cables • 15% reduction in total cost of entire offshore windfarms • Possibility to transfer 0.5 GW in the form of H2 and 1 GW electric energy in one combined system • Installation of cables for 90 GW transmission capacity by the consortium partners by 2050 • Creation of 5 000 European jobs within the field of sustainable energy

The use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere must be minimised as fast as possible to reach a climate-neutral society by 2050. A vital prerequisite of the de-carbonisation is the rapid growth of renewables. In 2050 more than 60 % of electrical power is expected to come from wind and solar, both significantly more remote located than traditional thermal power generation. To achieve this, efficient grid-integration of renewables across Europe and globally requires the development of high-power transmission systems and components, and more specifically Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) and High Voltage DC (HVDC) switchgear. In existing grids MVAC and HVAC switchgear is filled with the insulation gas SF6, the world's most potent GHG with a global warming potential (GWP) of 24 300. SF6-emissions due to leakages during gas handling or defective sealings / compartments represents a significant part of the grid owners' total GHG emissions. MISSION project will develop and demonstrate three SF6-free products as key-levers for climate neutral power transmission based on the requirements defined by TSOs, filling critical gaps in future hybrid ACDC grids: 1. SF6-free HVAC circuit breaker will be developed and type tested by Siemens Energy and installed and demonstrated by Statnett in Norway and RTE in France reaching TRL 8, 2. SF6-free HVDC GIS will be developed and type tested by Siemens Energy in Germany reaching TRL 8, 3. MVDC circuit breaker will be developed and tested in relevant environment by G&W reaching TRL 6. In addition, MISSION will determine technical properties of different SF6-alternatives for application in AC and DC switchgear for high and medium voltage operation. MISSION will contribute to enable emission-free energy transmission and switchgear technology transition for a resilient and sustainable future electric grid.