- HTS cables transmit electricity with near-zero resistance using liquid nitrogen cooling
- Unlike copper, superconductors do not generate heat and do not require multiple conductors.
- Veir demonstrated three megawatts of power in a simulated data center environment
Microsoft says it has invested in high-temperature superconductor (HTS) technology through its partnership with Veir, a company developing HTS power systems for data centers.
HTS cables are designed to transmit electricity with near-zero resistance using liquid nitrogen cooling, which virtually eliminates energy loss.
Unlike copper or aluminum conductors, these superconductors do not generate heat and take up less physical space.
How HTS cables differ from traditional conductors
Microsoft says it is exploring HTS technology to improve data center energy efficiency, reduce transmission losses, and improve the operational sustainability of its facilities.
Veir’s first demonstration of its HTS system took place in November 2025, successfully delivering three megawatts of power over a single cable in a simulated environment.
To put things in perspective, an aluminum or copper conductor would produce around 150 to 200 kW of resistive heat and would require several parallel cables to transmit three megawatts of power safely.
Although this demonstration represents a technical milestone, it is limited in scale and does not reflect an actual deployment.
Veir plans to move to commercialization in 2026, but no timeline was given for operational use by Microsoft, in part because the high cost of superconducting materials and the challenge of cooling HTS lines remain major obstacles.
Even on a grid scale, HTS deployment is often more expensive than conventional solutions when considering cooling requirements, supply constraints and voltage limitations.
However, Microsoft suggests that HTS technology could enable denser power delivery without expanding substations or adding additional feed lines.
Traditional constraints force operators to choose between expanding their facilities, reducing deployment density, or maintaining current operational limits.
HTS cables, in theory, could eliminate this trade-off and enable more compact and energy-efficient systems.
The company emphasizes potential improvements in operational sustainability and reducing impact on local communities, although specific metrics or timelines were not provided.
Despite Microsoft’s optimism, HTS technology is still largely experimental and in its early stages, although the company admitted in a blog post that the technology is not new.
“HTS remains in the development and evaluation phase for Microsoft-wide adoption. Currently, the focus is on testing, validating, and building trust in the technology with partners,” Microsoft said. The register.
“The work in progress right now is to understand where HTS might make sense, and we are excited about the potential we see.”
Material availability, cost and engineering challenges mean practical deployment could still take years.
The company’s current announcements primarily serve to demonstrate its interest in the technology rather than signaling impending operational changes.
Even with advancements, data center operators will continue to rely on conventional copper and aluminum cables, while high-temperature superconducting systems are perfected.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
