Flywheel Energy Storage Grid

The Challenge: On power grids that utilize renewable resources such as wind and solar, short-term fluctuations in these resources can cause significant power quality problems and reliance on non-renewable generation sources. This is especially true when trying to match supply with demand, particularly on remote or islanded micro-grids where there is either no additional connection or a weak connection to the main utility grid. In these micro-grid networks when renewable supply exceeds demand, such as during high wind or bright sun conditions, the conventional approach is connecting additional demand loads such as large resistor banks. When supply is less than demand during low wind conditions or cloud coverage, a diesel generator is often used to supply the power. In both scenarios, excess power is wasted and momentary shortfalls are supplemented by non-renewable power. Overall grid system control is also difficult to optimize resulting in poor power quality.