Since the invention of the flywheel, flywheel technology can help balance the energy flow in the machine. Over time, more modern flywheel equipment has been adopted by industries such as buses, trains, cranes, and automobiles, usually in the form of regenerative braking.

　　China Energy Storage Network News: Since the invention of the flywheel, flywheel technology can help balance the energy flow in the machine. Over time, more modern flywheel equipment has been adopted by industries such as buses, trains, cranes, and automobiles, usually in the form of regenerative braking. In this case, the energy that is about to be wasted (for example, the vehicle decelerates or stops) can be captured and converted into usable electrical energy.

　　The flywheel works at high speed by accelerating the rotor, and its energy is temporarily stored as rotational kinetic energy or kinetic energy. This energy can then be converted into a useful form, for example, it can make the vehicle move again.

　　For example, Volvo used their S60 sedan for testing a few years ago. The rear wheel brake will rotate the flywheel, generating mechanical energy, which will also help move the car forward when it accelerates later. This is impressive, right?

　　ABB will install its integrated PowerStore commercial flywheel and battery system in Alaska to achieve the integration of more renewable energy in wind farms

　　How fast does the modern flywheel rotate?

　　Due to recent technological advancements, flywheels have attracted the interest of some utilities and energy storage companies. The speed of the steel flywheel is limited to a few thousand revolutions. Modern flywheels are made of carbon fiber materials, use magnetic bearings, and can rotate at speeds of up to 60,000 rpm or higher.

　　The equipment developed for energy storage is installed in a vacuum enclosure to reduce air resistance. The flywheel also uses a generator connected to the rotor for charging and discharging.

　　Why are utility companies or grid operators interested in flywheels?

　　flywheel is easy to use and fast, and can be used to generate electricity. Grid balance is usually achieved by traditional generators, which must provide auxiliary services, such as backup power capacity. For real-time load balancing, such as frequency and voltage control, the speed at which the generator can increase and decrease determines the distribution and value of the energy services provided.

　　For example, STORNETIC's EnWheel flywheel product is made of high-tech materials, allowing the rotor to reach a speed of 45,000 revolutions per minute. According to the company, this is achieved by minimizing friction losses. The entire rotor runs in the vacuum of a non-contact bearing and is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

　　Flywheel can help accomplish these functions. Flywheels can quickly provide active and reactive power, which is essential to balance power fluctuations caused by traditional loads or renewable energy sources. This makes the flywheel ideal for balancing the variable power generated by wind or solar farms, improving the power quality of the grid, and stabilizing the locally distributed voltage level.

　　Of course, wind farms will be affected by wind. Too much or too little wind will affect the stability of the grid it feeds into. This is where the energy storage system comes into play. Energy storage deployment can help support and balance the integration of renewable energy.　　 Lithium-ion and other batteries can store, absorb and release energy within seconds to minutes, and flywheels can also store these electrical energy and exceed the performance of the battery. Moreover, unlike lithium-ion batteries, the performance of flywheels will not degrade even after thousands of cycles, so their service life can better match the service life of wind farms.

　　Are batteries and flywheels an either-or choice?

　　The flywheel can work with the battery. For example, power equipment manufacturer ABB provides a modular microgrid system that combines the complementary functions of these two devices. The system is currently serving a 17-megawatt wind farm in Alaska, USA. The flywheel will help integrate fluctuating wind power, and the battery can be used for long-term storage of electricity.　　 STORNETIC company pointed out that the independent flywheel system has environmental advantages, the system does not contain toxins or chemical substances.