ABB is to deploy an integrated commercial flywheel system on Kodiak Island in Alaska, US.
The flywheel system, integrated with a battery, is aimed to enable the integration of renewable energy from an expanded wind farm to its microgrid and to address stability challenges.
The system comprises of two 1MW grid stabilisation generators based on a spinning flywheel with inverters to store short term energy to absorb or inject real and reactive power onto the grid.
According to the Swiss-Swedish power electronics giant, the system can switch from a full-power charge to a full-power discharge in less than 5ms.
Kodiak Electric Association (KEA), an electric cooperative owned by residents of the island, commissioned ABB. KEA operates a microgrid that generates 28MW of electricity capacity from hydropower and wind. The island is populated by 15,000 people.
“Remote locations like islands may be rich in renewable energy sources, but the intermittent nature makes their integration into the power grid a challenge,” said Claudio Facchin, head of ABB’s power systems business.
“ABB’s innovative microgrid solution as in this case includes grid stabilization technology that enables high penetration of renewable power generation, and distributed control systems that provide intelligent power management and efficient hybrid power plant operation,” he added.
