Hawaiian Electric Is Testing Flywheels as an Energy Storage Option
Summary
It’s the first project outside of California for the Union City, Calif.-based company, albeit a small one -- a single Gen2 Model 25 steel flywheel system at the Campbell generating station, one of the two big power plants that keep Oahu’s grid energized. The startup’s main claim to fame is its multi-hour energy storage duration -- a rarity for a technology better known for delivering huge bursts of power over short timeframes. That’s mainly because spinning heavy disks or cylinders can pack a lot of punch, but tend to lose long-term storage potential through friction. In the case of its PG&E project, Amber Kinetics is expected to supply up to 4 hours of energy per day during times when the system is facing peak demand for electricity. Hawaiian Electric hasn’t specified just how it plans to test its new flywheel, but it certainly has a need for energy storage to help it manage its growing share of solar and wind power.
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