I have worked on various parts of this project. These ARE HTS cables and DO superconduct at liquid nitrogen temps. Also, the point is to use this tech for motors and generators (confined space, easy-ish to keep cold) not for power transmission. Just to clarify, IRL were the first to discover this type of superconductor and remain on the bleeding edge of research.
AMSC (American Superconductor) is 20 years ahead of this and can do this at liquid nitrogen temps, not liquid helium temps. HTS cables are already being used world wide at several sites.
Corporate Welfare. Google "General Cable Superconductors" + "government funding". Here we are beneficiary bashing over play play money while the 'company' these guys are in 'partnership' with are throwing around $60 million a year. Do they have any idea how impractical it is to keep something at -200degC, especially over great distances? Super cold 'super' conductors have been know about since that programme 'Beyond 2000' so over a decade. Glad to see so much progress has been made since then... Quote from scoop :"About Industrial Research Limited Industrial Research Limited (IRL) is a Crown Research Institute which develops technology for the New Zealand industrial and manufacturing sectors...IRL Ltd has around 300 staff and an annual expenditure of around $60million per annum." Tip of the iceberg.