Book excerpt: Model SMES experiments performed at LASL show that magnetic energy storage in a superconducting magnet is a viable alternate to energy storage methods which are being built today. It is a fast responding device, i.e., milliseconds, and efficient method which does not require electric energy be converted to mechanical form for storage. Component tests on a model SMES system include 12 pulse converter, automatic and manual converter power control system, and high current superconductors have been performed to evaluate and develop systems which could be used on the 100 MJ SMES system that has been designed. Test circuits have been designed and used for economical and nondestructive testing of magnets for superconductor performance and evaluation. A closed-loop model SMES system has been developed and built to study the electrical characteristics of the system. Initial test results were obtained for a symmetrically and asymmetrically triggered twelve-pulse converter. The asymmetrically triggered bridge shows the lower reactive power requirement, but a more distorted line current. Future converter tests and studies will be required to clearly identify the better circuit. A converter optimization study will include an evaluation of costs for harmonic filtering and power factor correction. Tests with the automatic control system show that a SMES system has switching times between the charging and discharging mode of about a cycle and a half. This makes the system very attractive for power system stabilization.