AMSC and Nexans Announce Successful Testing of World's First Power Transmission Cable Made With 2G HTS Wire.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. and PARIS -- * Testing Completed on 138kV Nexans Cable Powered by AMSC's 344 Superconductors

* Results Pave the Way for Commercial Superconductor Power Cables Made with 2G HTS Wire

American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC), a leading energy technologies company, and Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, announced today the successful testing of the world's first power transmission cable made with second generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire. The cable was produced by Nexans utilizing AMSC's proprietary 2G HTS wire known as "344 superconductors."

This 30-meter-long, transmission-voltage cable was successfully tested at a Nexans high-voltage facility in Hannover, Germany. Operated at 138,000 volts (138kV), the cable contained only 33 hair-thin 344 superconductors, yet it demonstrated the capability to transmit 435 mega-volt-amperes (MVA) of power - enough electricity to power over 250,000 homes. This rating is more than 50% higher than conventional cables at the same voltage level.

"The demonstration of a power transmission cable that utilizes AMSC's proprietary 344 superconductors is an important milestone and paves the way for large-scale, commercial utility projects," said Greg Yurek, founder and CEO of AMSC. "We have achieved commercial-grade electrical performance with our 344 superconductors, and have proven that our manufacturing methodologies are on the way to achieving cost targets that are expected to enable broad application of this technology in power grids."

This demonstration confirms that 344 superconductors are a drop-in replacement for first generation HTS wire. First generation HTS wire has been utilized to manufacture all prototype HTS power cables worldwide over the past 10 years. AMSC said it expects to initiate volume production of 344 superconductors in December 2007 to meet the expected demand for HTS wire for power cables and other applications. High-capacity superconductor power cables are expected to be utilized first in cities and metropolitan areas, where demand for electricity continues to grow and has strained existing power grids.

"Nexans always has been committed to providing the utility industry with advanced technologies, and HTS power cables are among our most promising offerings," said Pascal Portevin, Executive Vice President, Strategic Operations. "The ability to carry a large amount of electricity through small corridors is incredibly appealing for urban and metropolitan power grids. Transitioning from first generation to second generation HTS wire proved to be seamless for our cable manufacturing team, and we are very happy with the cable's performance. Based on these results and the anticipated success of the first generation 138kV HTS cable system we are installing with AMSC in the commercial grid of Long Island Power Authority, we are clearly on a path to finalize development and introduce HTS cables made with 344 superconductors in utility power grids."

This first HTS transmission cable made with 344 superconductors was privately financed by Nexans and AMSC to demonstrate that 344 superconductors are a form, fit and function replacement for AMSC's first generation HTS wire. The project confirmed that power transmission cables utilizing 344 superconductors could be readily produced employing the same techniques that have been developed for the production of cables made with first generation wire.

AMSC's 344 superconductors were designed as a drop-in replacement for customers currently using 1G HTS wire. The 344 superconductors comprise 2G HTS wire clad with ultra-thin strips of copper or stainless steel. 344 superconductors offer significantly higher power density and efficiency compared with similar copper-based wire products. As a result, electrical systems that incorporate HTS wire are dramatically smaller, lighter and more cost effective than comparable systems based on copper wire. The applications for HTS wire include power transmission and distribution cables, propulsion motors and generators, degaussing cable systems, synchronous condensers and fault current limiters. For more information about AMSC's HTS products, please visit: http://www.amsuper.com/products/htsWire/2GWireTechnology.cfm .

About Nexans

With energy as the basis of its development, Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, offers an extensive range of cables and cabling systems. The Group is a global player in the infrastructure, industry and building markets. Nexans addresses a series of market segments from energy, transport and telecom networks to shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear, automotive, electronics, aeronautics, handling and automation. With an industrial presence in more than 30 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 21,000 people and had sales in 2006 of 7.5 billion euros. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange, compartment A of the Eurolist of Euronext. More information on http://www.nexans.com/.

About AMSC

AMSC (American Superconductor Corporation - NASDAQ: AMSC) is a leading energy technologies company. The company develops and sells a wide range of products and solutions based on power electronic systems and high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires that dramatically improve the efficiency, reliability and quality of electricity during its generation, transmission, distribution and use. The company is a dominant force in alternative energy, offering grid interconnection solutions as well as licensed wind energy designs and electrical systems. As the world's principal supplier of HTS wire, AMSC is enabling a new generation of compact, high-power electrical products, including motors, generators, power cables, grid-level surge protectors, and advanced transportation and defense systems. AMSC also provides utility and industrial customers worldwide with voltage regulation systems that dramatically enhance power grid capacity, reliability and security, as well as industrial productivity. The company's technologies are protected by a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses worldwide. More information is available at www.amsuper.com .

American Superconductor and design, Revolutionizing the Way the World Uses Electricity, AMSC, Powered by AMSC, SuperVAR, D-VAR, DVC, PQ-IVR, PowerModule and Windtec are trademarks or registered trademarks of AMSC.

Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the company, including statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties regarding the company's ability to obtain anticipated funding from corporate and government contracts, to successfully develop, manufacture and market commercial products, and to secure anticipated orders; the risk that a robust market may not develop for the company's products; the risk that strategic alliances and other contracts may be terminated; the risk that certain technologies utilized by the company will infringe intellectual property rights of others; the competition encountered by the company, including several large Japanese companies. Reference is made to these and other factors discussed in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" section of the company's most recent quarterly or annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the company's views as of the date of this release. While the company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the company's views to change, the company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the company's views as of any date subsequent to the date this press release is issued.