If California is to meet its Renewable Portfolio Standards, utilities will need an environmentally friendly, cost effective way to store renewable power and dispatch it to the grid when needed. Amber Kinetics, a vertically integrated manufacturer and project developer of grid-scale energy storage systems, recently partnered with Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) to test the viability of using flywheels for energy storage. 

Amber Kinetics connected its Alameda Point Test Site with AMP’s grid in February, and has now begun testing of its flywheel units.

Flywheels offer a number of advantages over chemical batteries: no chemicals or hazardous materials, unlimited cycling with no degradation and increased responsiveness. Flywheels convert electrical energy to kinetic energy when storing power and convert the energy back to electricity when needed by the grid. Amber Kinetics has demonstrated the only flywheel in the world capable of discharging for four straight hours here in Alameda.

Alameda leads the county in use of renewable energy and AMP is a carbon-neutral utility. Working with companies like Amber Kinetics will help find new ways to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance grid stability.