Could a flywheel be the new energy storage technology?

Working under the supervision of Pierre Mertiny, researchers are chipping away at the challenges and high costs of energy storage. One possibility is the new use of an old technology: the flywheel. You know, almost intuitively, how the mechanical energy storage system called a flywheel works.

Could a flywheel save energy?

Energy is all around us - it can be harvested from sources such as wind, sun and moving water - but it's still difficult to store effectively. Working under the supervision of Pierre Mertiny, researchers are chipping away at the challenges and high costs of energy storage. One possibility is the new use of an old technology: the flywheel.

Could a flywheel be a new technology?

One possibility is the new use of an old technology: the flywheel. You know, almost intuitively, how the mechanical energy storage system called a flywheel works. Think of a foot-operated sewing machine or a spinning top. Both collect and store kinetic energy in the flywheel, and release it when needed, typically over a short time.

What can a flywheel do?

Another big potential application for a flywheel is in energy utility grids. Utility companies can use stored kinetic energy as a buffer, stabilizing the frequency of their grid, mitigating power fluctuations, blackouts and spikes in demand.

Are flywheels energy dense?

Flywheels are energy dense, meaning they're ready to supply power in quick bursts to deal with those spikes in use. "Flywheels are good at providing high power - a lot of energy in a short time," says grad student Miles Skinner.

What are the advantages of flywheel technology?

One of the advantages of flywheel technology is the environmental tolerance; chemical batteries perform poorly outside of a limited temperature range which often necessitates axillary heating and cooling systems that reduce system power conversion efficiency.