How can superconductors reduce power losses in electric transmission lines?

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Figure 1: Specific heat in the normal (Cen) and superconducting (Ces) states of a classic superconductor as a function of absolute temperature. The two functions are identical at the transition temperature (Tc) and above Tc. — superconductivity Figure 1: Specific heat in the normal (C_en) and superconducting (C_es) states of a classic superconductor as a function of absolute temperature. The two functions are identical at the transition temperature (T_c) and above T_c.

Superconductors reduce power losses in electric transmission lines by eliminating electrical resistance when cooled below a specific transition temperature.1

In standard conductors, electrons lose energy through collisions with atoms and other electrons, which generates heat and results in power dissipation—a process described by the formula $P = i^{2} R$ , where $P$ is power, $i$ is current, and $R$ is resistance. Because superconductors exhibit a complete disappearance of this resistance, they prevent the energy loss typically associated with these collisions. In a superconducting state, electrons move in a way that prevents energy from being transferred to the medium as heat, allowing for highly efficient electric power transmission.21