Grid stabilization for renewable power, 20 MW flywheel power storage plant.

[Fledermaus]

First 20 MW Plant - Construction

The world's first grid-scale, flywheel-based energy storage plant is being built in Stephentown, New York. When completed, the 20 MW plant will operate continuously, storing and returning energy to the grid to provide approximately 10% of New York's overall frequency regulation needs. More information on the frequency regulation service and how Beacon Power flywheels provide it can be found here.

http://www.beaconpower.com/company/201012-gallery.asp

[angryfirelord]

1. This is a pretty neat idea

Unlike other forms of power generation such as solar and wind, using a flywheel wouldn't require any exotic elements or rare earth materials. Here's a very small-scale example of how it works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV_b5oMqc2M

Obviously you'd have to use something like magnetic levitation to reduce friction.

The only potential problem though is that such a system would require occasional jolts (since you don't want it to stop spinning) which would result in less advertised savings and if it's not designed properly, it could blow apart from stress. But then again, windmills can do the same if their brakes fail. Still, looks cool.

[drm604]

2. This isn't actually power generation.

It's power storage. It's used to store energy during periods of low wind or sun, or to even out the power delivered by intermittent sources (such as wind and solar).

[angryfirelord]

7. Oops, my bad

Well, at least the video was pretty cool. :-)

[drm604]

8. Easy mistake.

This is still a good idea because it makes it much easier to integrate intermittent sources into the grid.

[Fledermaus]

3. Yes, Beacon flywheels have magnetic bearings and are contained in a vacuum

They are being tested in connection with wind and hydro power. Flywheels can respond very quickly and can fill the gap until hydro takes over.

This new plant will give the local grid the ability to absorb 10% more intermittent fluctuations.

[AdHocSolver]

4. Using the flywheel to store energy in a mechanical form.

A storage battery, such as used in a car, stores energy in a chemical form.

This "flywheel technology" is already being used in electric vehicles in the regenerative breaking system, where the momentum of the car turns the wheels, which drives the motor to act as a generator to produce an electric current to partially recharge the batteries.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Years (decades?) ago, when I first heard this idea discussed,

safety was considered to be a real issue. The main thing, as I remember, was the fear that the flywheel would break apart, sending its pieces shooting off radially at high speed.

I assume that modern materials have solved that problem. I wonder what the flywheel is contained in. Is it underground, just in case?

[Fledermaus]

6. They use a composite material of some sort. It will disintegrate and turn to dust

in the event of catastrophic failure. The blue circles in the photo are their underground vaults.

[kristopher]

9. For BYD, Electric Vehicles Are Just the Start

Hope you don't mind, but I have a couple of other posts about storage and I thought it would be good to add them to this thread.

For BYD, Electric Vehicles Are Just the Start

By John Gartner at Matter Network

Chinese company BYD will bring its electric and plug-in vehicles to North America in 2011 as one part of a threefold strategy for exporting technology. BYD's first plug-in car, the F3DM, has arrived in California where it will be used in a pilot project by the Los Angeles Housing Authority. The F3DM has 40-60 miles of electric range and 300 miles of gasoline range, and in a unique feature, drivers can specify whether the gas engine assists the electric motor.

The company, in which billionaire Warren Buffett is a prominent investor, has had delays in bringing its EVs to the U.S. , with the all-electric E6 now not arriving until 2011. Not stopping at light duty vehicles, BYD is also bringing the K9 electric bus, which can travel up to 300 kilometers on a charge, to the U.S. in 2011. BYD has seen very slow sales of its EVs in China, and has had to scale back its ambitious plans for sales and new vehicle launches.

But for BYD, EVs are only part of the plan. The company has been a significant player in batteries and wants to simultaneously roll out energy storage and renewable power. The company is planning to offer the same lithium-ion batteries that power its vehicles to store solar power. The energy storage market is in its infancy, and will grow rapidly throughout the decade. Pike Research projects that lithium ion battery sales for grid applications will be $64 million in 2011 in North America, and grow to $3.1 billion by 2015...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS401030644520101223

[joshcryer]

12. V2G is nice, if it were physically possible to grow out a V2G.

Unfortunately it's not. Not without advances in magnetic technology.

[kristopher]

13. Is there a meaning buried in there somewhere?

[kristopher]

10. A123 Systems to Supply Energy Storage Batteries in NY

A123 Systems to Supply Energy Storage Batteries in NY

A123 Systems will supply advanced lithium-ion battery cells for a 20 MW energy storage system in NY State.

The Dept of Energy (DOE) announced it finalized a $17.1 million loan guarantee for the AES Westover energy storage facility, which will contribute to a more stable, efficient electrical grid for the state's high-voltage transmission network.
"The AES project helps reduce carbon emissions and strengthens our energy infrastructure by allowing for more renewable energy sources like solar and wind to contribute to the electrical grid," said Secretary Chu.

Traditionally, grid frequency regulation, which is needed to balance power generation and consumption on the grid, is maintained by burning additional fossil fuels at power plants. The AES project eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels and instead uses battery technology and new software that will provide the same regulation at a lower price, while reducing carbon emissions 70%.

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21640

[kristopher]

11. Sopogy Lands 200MW China Project for Thermal Energy Storage

Sopogy Lands 200MW China Project for Thermal Energy Storage

December 20, 2010 -- Sopogy, a Honolulu solar power technology company, is planning a 200-megawatt solar thermal project for the China's National Utility, The State Grid. The company signed a memorandum of understanding last Thursday with China’s Yu Hao Long Corp., which designs thermal-energy generators (see photo). The MOU also formalized a goal to demonstrate the combined system in Hawaii during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which will be hosted in Honolulu.

The two companies have been collaborating on a 5-megawatt demonstration project at Kalaeloa on Oahu.

“Sopogy’s proprietary concentrating solar platform produces high-temperature heat which is a robust energy source for clean power generation,” said Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy. “The heat we produce is captured in thermal energy storage tanks and helps to produce firm and reliable energy during the day into the evening peak. This makes for a perfect complement with a Stirling generator and the China energy grid.”

Kimura and YHL’s Dr. Francis Fung collaborated for over a year to identify and develop a plan for the mass production of YHL’s low temperature, hybrid Stirling engines which use ready-made auto components for utility scale power generation....

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/9323154833/articles/Photovoltaics-World/industry-news/2010/december/sopogy-lands_200mw.html

This is referred to as "MicroCSP technology".