June 17, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Superconductor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SCON) has completed the submission of two proposals in response to a request for concept papers requiring funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency — Energy (ARPA-E) branch of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Both of the proposals were made jointly with GE Global Research, a subsidiary of General Electric (NYSE: GE). STI submitted the two proposals in response to a May solicitation from ARPA-E, a new organization within the DOE set up to fund projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In the first proposal, STI and GE Global Research have jointly proposed the adaptation of STI’s proprietary cryocooler technology for usage in next generation wind turbines. The goal of the program is to utilize the proven reliability of STI’s cryocooler for an application where extended reliability is a key requirement. STI would lead the development program, with GE Global Research providing critical technical assistance in establishing device specifications and product integration requirements.

The second joint proposal to ARPA-E is an outgrowth of the previously announced collaboration to jointly develop a successful commercial production process for 2G HTS tape, a key enabling technology in superconducting devices for emerging power generation and electric power grid applications. Now joined by GE Global Research, the parties have requested funding for a project to adapt STI’s proprietary HTS material deposition process with the goal of producing HTS tape at a viable cost.

While the performance benefits of superconducting tape are well recognized in the industry, the ability to manufacture sufficient quantity of tape at a competitive price has been a significant impediment to market acceptance. GE Global Research would provide significant technical assistance in establishing performance requirements and refining STI’s manufacturing process for producing HTS tape.

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