In anticipation of increased installed power capacity and progressive electrification in an energy transition perspective, high-efficiency electrical grids are necessary. In this process, superconductor cables for energy transport could play a significant role as they can be installed for new lines or to replace existing infrastructures, potentially reducing costs and environmental impact compared to conventional solutions. The technical and economic feasibility of superconducting options depends on line design parameters such as voltage levels, power capacity, and line length.

For each condition, the configuration of the cable and its cooling system must be optimized while respecting a series of electrical and geometric constraints. Determining the optimal cable configuration in advance is non-trivial due to the interdependent variables involved. This study provides a tool to quantify the technical and economic aspects of superconducting cables, enabling users to freely select operating conditions for a generic power line. The tool adopts a genetic algorithm to solve a constrained minimization problem for a multivariable function, yielding the cable configuration characterized by the lowest costs.

For this study, concentric AC cables made with High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS) were selected, but the described approach can be easily adapted to other types of cables. By employing suitable simplifying assumptions, parametric equations are introduced to size cable components, estimate thermal inputs, and describe cryogenic flows. Finally, detailed study results are provided on the impact of relevant parameters on cable design and costs.