Flywheels, one of the earliest forms of energy storage, could play a significant role in the transformation of the electrical power system into one that is fully sustainable yet low cost.
Flywheel energy storage systems are suitable and economical when frequent charge and discharge cycles are required. Furthermore, flywheel batteries have high power density and a low environmental footprint. Various techniques are being employed to improve the efficiency of the flywheel, including the use of composite materials.
Fly wheels store energy in mechanical rotational energy to be then converted into the required power form when required. Energy storage is a vital component of any power system, as the stored energy can be used to offset inconsistencies in the power delivery system.
By improving these aspects, the flywheels will be designed in a way that can store energy for up 24 hours. A breakthrough in the research on cheap and efficient energy storage would be a significant step on the path to making the world independent of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
A Flywheel System Configured for Electrical Storage Electrical power is normally transmitted from a nominally constant voltage direct current (DC) link to and from the motor-generator (MG) via a power converter.
Efficient storage of energy The flywheel works through a heavy cylinder that is kept floating in vacuum containers by the use of a magnetic field. By adding power to it – e.g. energy from a wind turbine – the flywheel is pushed into motion. As long as the wheel is rotating, it stores the energy that initially started it.