The losses occurring with conventional electric power generation, transformation, storage and transmission are a problem which is still largely unresolved. Superconductors have a number of interesting electrotechnical properties, one of which is the ability of conductors with small cross-sections to carry high currents. In the past, however, superconductors had to be cooled by liquid helium, which is not only a costly coolant but also requires a complex refrigeration system. The new ceramic high-temperature superconductors have the advantage that they can be cooled in a far simpler way with liquid nitrogen. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before ceramic conductors can be used for technical applications. In the future, they could revolutionize the electrotechnical sector by being used for superconducting cables, magnetic energy storage, superconducting transformers and fault current limiters.