Proof of Concept project to prove supporting technologies for Ultra-large Composite Flywheel deployment in Energy Storage

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This project focuses on the UKs growing need for energy storage solutions to supportrenewable energy deployments & grid integration & to reduce strain on the national gridduring peak times as outlined in the TSB’s Energy Supply Strategy 2012 – “supportingrenewable energy deployments through energy storage developments to meet legally bindingtargets for greenhouse gas reduction”. The proposed solution is to develop much largerComposite Flywheels producing MWh’s rather than kWh’s with existing solutions. Keyobjectives are to prove the technical & cost feasibility & benefits of large composite flywheelenergy storage. Through discussions with potential end-users, the commercial productrequires the following objectives/applications: Low Voltage Ride Through insensitive, VArmanagement, storage efficiency, spinning reserve, Black Start, rapid response with fastramping & small footprint.Project innovation is to prove the concept of an in-situ manufacturing process capable ofbuilding composite flywheels with the quality of bond & inclusion size to support thedemands of hoop & radial stress. Further innovation is to develop a magnetic bearingarrangement supported on a frustrated cone to centre the rotor & compensate for radial growthduring operation. The system will run in a vacuum utilising Halbach arrays to support theflywheel weight for friction free running.Key project benefits are to prove the concept innovations in the workshop & to completebasic material strength trials to validate the theoretical design work & manufacturing process.This enables EPL to develop an exploitation roadmap to further develop the technology tobuild an initial prototype flywheel in conjunction with key material & systems partners. Ifsuccessful, the project contributes to the longer term goal of resolving energy storage issues inthe UK & abroad & supports the deployment of renewable energy systems & strengtheninglocal grid usage & stability.