A hybrid energy storage system combining lithium-ion batteries with mechanical energy storage in the form of flywheels has gone into operation in the Netherlands, from technology providers Leclanché and S4 Energy. Contact online >>
A hybrid energy storage system combining lithium-ion batteries with mechanical energy storage in the form of flywheels has gone into operation in the Netherlands, from technology providers Leclanché and S4 Energy.
Switzerland-headquartered battery and storage system provider Leclanché emailed Energy-Storage.news this week to announce that what began as a small-scale pilot of the twinned technologies has now gone to grid-scale and into commercial operation.
The hybrid system combines 8.8MW / 7.12MWh of lithium-ion batteries with six flywheels adding up to 3MW of power. It will provide 9MW of frequency stabilising primary control power to the transmission grid operated by TenneT and is located in Almelo, a city in the Overijssel province in the east Netherlands.
The system’s provision of services into the market will be managed by S4 Ancillary Services, a joint venture (JV) part-owned by flywheel manufacturer and supplier S4 Energy. S4’s partner in the JV is a local government-owned entity, Energiefonds Overijssel, which aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy in the province. Overijssel is targeting 20% renewables by 2023 and the storage system helps the local grid to manage increased shares of variable renewable generation.
“We believe that the combination of these two technologies provides a clear advantage for enhanced ancillary services and the further integration of renewables into the grid,” Leclanché VP for system engineering Daniel Fohr said.
S4 Energy launched into the frequency containment reserve market using a combination of its KINEXT flywheels and batteries in 2017. According to the company’s project director Dominique Becker Hoff, the flywheel supplies instantaneous power for very short periods of time without losing capacity. The 5,000kgKINEXT flywheel operates at 92% efficiency, storing energy as rotational mass.
The technology is seen as complementary to higher capacity electrochemical battery storage because the flywheels are not prone to degradation. The flywheel component can supply reserve power continuously while the battery only joins in for lengthier variations in frequency, protecting the batteries from degradation and ensuring a longer lifespan for cells.
“Our collaboration with Leclanché has truly delivered a new, best-of-breed solution, with positive implications for clean energy and for the grid operators responsible for delivering reliable energy to their end-users,” Dominique Becker Hoff said.
According to the Leclanché release, this means the batteries can last a minimum of 15 years. The Swiss company, which also has facilities in the US, said it supplied the full battery energy storage system (BESS), along with inverters and energy management system (EMS) which monitors and controls the battery system.
While a few flywheels for energy storage have been deployed around the world in the past few years, including one of the US’ earliest advanced non-pumped hydro storage systems in a pilot by the government Department of Energy, their widespread use has not taken off to date. That said, technology developments mean that they have been seen in use for anything from a few minutes’ storage to much longer durations – with US manufacturer Amber Kinetics touting a four hour flywheel a couple of years back.
North America-based project developer Convergent Energy + Power bought up a 40MW portfolio of operating flywheel assets in 2018, which added to another 5MW later acquired made the company currently the world’s biggest commercial operator of flywheels.
In addition to stabilizing the grid, the storage system also offers active support to the local Luna wind energy park. Here it acts as a short-term damper to prevent imbalance in the output of the turbines and prevent curtailment of production. S4 Energy''s aim for this pilot project is to demonstrate that the net revenues of wind energy can be significantly improved by incorporating an energy storage system, in turn making wind energy projects less dependent on subsidies.
Each KINEXT unit contains a flywheel with a high mass (5,000 kg) and large diameter (around 2.6 meters), which spins relatively slowly with a peak speed of around 1,800 rpm. The ABB motor and drive takes excess electrical energy from the grid and uses it to speed up the rotation of the flywheel, so it is stored as kinetic energy. When a fast injection of power is needed to maintain frequency stability, the regenerative capability of the drive converts the flywheel''s kinetic energy back into electricity within milliseconds.
"The Heerhugowaard facility is our latest energy storage system, but our first to actively support a wind park. We are now set to accelerate our business and expand our services, and ABB''s expertise in pairing flywheels with drives and motors has been critical in helping us to achieve this position," said Dominque Becker Hoff, Director of Projects, S4 Energy.
"This project with S4 Energy is a great example of ABB''s commitment to helping decarbonize power utilities," said Marcel Zevenbergen, Sales Manager, System Drives at ABB Motion Netherlands. "The combination of flywheels and batteries offers the best of both worlds with good potential to further increase the viability of renewable energy projects such as wind and solar. Moreover, flywheels are a great solution in many other electrification and industrial applications."
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB''s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.
S4 Energy and ABB recently installed a hybrid battery-flywheel storage facility in the Netherlands. The project features a 10 MW battery system and a 3 MW flywheel system and can reportedly offer a levelised cost of storage ranging between €0.020 ($0.020)/kWh and €0.12/kWh.
In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable energy practices, here at S4 Energy we have achieved a significant milestone with the commissioning of KINEXT, an innovative energy storage system employing flywheel technology. This cutting-edge solution has transformed the Kone Gottwald harbour crane at United Waalhaven Terminals (UWT) in Rotterdam into a fully electrically powered marvel, marking a crucial step in reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption.
With the commissioning of KINEXT, Kone Gottwald harbour crane of United Waalhaven Terminals (UWT), is now fully electrically powered. This has meant that the diesel generator that once moved the crane has been turned off, saving fuel and immediately avoiding annual c02 emissions of 500 tonnes. This solution makes it possible to electrify the industry without having to wait for a heavier grid connection.
The collaborative effort between S4 Energy and United Waalhaven Terminals has received support from the Smart Energy Systems (SES) program initiated by the municipality of Rotterdam. This program aims to bolster entrepreneurs driving innovations in energy systems and transitions
About Netherlands flywheel energy storage
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Netherlands flywheel energy storage have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Netherlands flywheel energy storage for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Netherlands flywheel energy storage featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
