First Flywheel Storage Plant In Europe Announced
Ireland’s Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has just announced the first grid-connected hybrid flywheel project that will be situated in the Irish midlands.
The Irish company, SchwungradEnergie Limited, is heading the project and will collaborate with the Department of Physics and Energy at the University of Limerick as well as the US company, Beacon Power.
To support the work, the European Commission Horizon 2020 awarded €2.55 million in December 2014. The project has been selected by the Irish Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, as a demonstration.
Some advantages of flywheels include its nontoxic, nonflammable properties, and the fact that it does not use any water and has no associated emissions while being silent and clean. Unlike batteries, they make use of mechanical energy which means they can theoretically last longer.
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