First kinetic energy storage unit in commercial operation

Energy storage company Stornetic commissioned its first kinetic energy storage unit. The new device has been put into commercial operation by Munich Municipal Utilities within their virtual power plant.

“We are tremendously proud to work with the first power plant in the world to place an energy storage unit in operation based on multiple flywheels,” says Stornetic Managing Director, Rainer vor dem Esche. “Our approach combines the advantages of mechanical energy storage units, such as sturdiness and endurance, with the advantages of container solutions such as modularity, rapid installation and mobility.”

“The USA provide the most advanced regulation and boundary conditions worldwide for the commercial use of modern energy storage systems,” Rainer vor dem Esche continues. “With regard to these promising conditions and the growing demand for reliable frequency regulation we are now looking forward to supporting US utilities with our technology.”

The ‘DuraStor’ energy storage unit by STORNETIC generates up to 600 kVA at approximately 100 kWh. The unit consists of 28 flywheels which can be accelerated to velocities of up to 45,000 rpms. The accumulator is purely kinetic, i.e. it functions entirely without the use of chemicals. Instead electrical energy is stored as mechanical energy by means of an accelerating rotor. During recycling, the motor acts as a generator, producing electrical energy by decelerating the rotor.