California-based Amber Kinetics, the world’s only provider of long-duration flywheel energy storage systems (FESS), is showcasing its product for verification and demonstration at the De La Salle University Laguna campus grounds.
Amber Kinetics’ dome-shaped structures called A32 FESS is connected to the ground-mounted solar panels from Union Solar.
The A32 FESS is the only FESS in the world that can store 32 kilowatt-hours of energy and dis- charge it for four hours, delivering 8 kw of constant power.One A32 can serve about five average Filipino homes for one day.
“What is astounding about the A32 is that these individual flywheels can be grouped into large arrays—similar to solar PV panels—to provide tens or even hundreds of megawatts. Indeed, Amber Kinetics has engineered a highly efficient flywheel that meets the energy storage needs of the modern grid,” said Amber Kinetics Philippines business development director Bobby Kanapi.
“The transition to clean energy is happening in the Philippines. It’s no longer a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’. What Amber Kinetics offers could hasten the transition to clean energy,” Kanapi said.
The flywheel that A32 employs is one of the earliest mechanical energy storage mechanisms devised by man, like the potter’s wheel and the pedal-powered grinding wheel used to sharpen knives.
It is the first and only long duration flywheel, which is fast becoming relevant in today’s environment where establishments and communities require sustainable and reliable alternative clean energy solutions.
“As companies and utilities look for solutions to bridge the gap between traditional energy generation—e.g., renewables like solar and wind power—they also want something that could replace the chemical-based energy storage system and solutions,” said Kanapi.
Amber Kinetics’ A32, is also safe for the environment. The flywheel is made of 95-percent steel hence recyclable, and does not degrade in performance over time, even with its 30-year life span.
A32 is non-toxic, non-flammable and does not depend on or contain any rare-earth metals.
