The prospect of flywheel energy storage

Could flywheels be the future of energy storage?

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.

What is flywheel energy storage?

Flywheel energy storage (FES) is a kind of physics energy storage method exploiting a rotational block with kinetic energy that changes with the rotational speed varying [2, 3]. The speed-increasing flywheel stores energy when it is accelerated by a motor, which obtains electrical power from the grid through power electronic device driving.

Can flywheels be used for power storage systems?

Flywheels are now a possible technology for power storage systems for fixed or mobile installations. FESS have numerous advantages, such as high power density, high energy density, no capacity degradation, ease of measurement of state of charge, don’t require periodic maintenance and have short recharge times .

What is a flywheel/kinetic energy storage system (fess)?

A flywheel/kinetic energy storage system (FESS) is a type of energy storage system that uses a spinning rotor to store energy. Thanks to its unique advantages such as long life cycles, high power density, minimal environmental impact, and high power quality such as fast response and voltage stability, FESS is gaining attention recently.

How does a high-speed flywheel energy storage system work?

Zhang employed a high-speed flywheel energy storage system (FESS) charge–discharge control method based on the DC traction network voltage to achieve effective operation of the FESS in the subway traction power supply system .

What are the potential applications of flywheel technology?

Flywheel technology has potential applications in energy harvesting, hybrid energy systems, and secondary functionalities apart from energy storage. Additionally, there are opportunities for new applications in these areas.