Amber Kinetics: The next frontier in Energy Storage

On the sprawling grounds of De La Salle University Laguna campus lies the product verification and demonstration facility of California-based Amber Kinetics, which is currently the world’s only provider of long-duration flywheel energy storage systems (FESS).

The facility has the look and feel of a futuristic research center, with its ground-mounted solar panels from Union Solar, and inverters. But what immediately draws one’s attention are the dozens of dome-shaped structures protruding from the ground. Each steel cylindrical device is called the A32 FESS.

The A32 FESS is the product of Amber Kinetics and is the only FESS in the world that can store 32 kWh of energy and discharge it for 4 hours (delivering 8 kW of constant power). Amber Kinetics said the A32 can be configured to discharge power for a maximum of 8 hours, delivering 4 kW of constant power. To put this in perspective, one A32 can serve approximately 5 average Filipino homes for one day.

“What is astounding about the A32 is that these individual flywheels can be grouped into large arrays—similar to solar PV panels—to provide tens or even hundreds of megawatts. Indeed, Amber Kinetics has engineered a highly efficient flywheel that meets the energy storage needs of the modern grid.” said Bobby Kanapi, Amber Kinetics Philippines Business Development Director. “The transition to clean energy is happening in the Philippines. It’s no longer a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’. What Amber Kinetics offers could hasten the transition to clean energy,” Kanapi added.

The flywheel that the A32 employs is one of the earliest mechanical energy storage mechanisms devised by man, like the potter’s wheel and the pedal-powered grinding wheel used to sharpen knives. But the A32 is the first and only long duration flywheel which is why they are fast becoming relevant in today’s environment where establishments and communities require sustainable, and reliable, alternative clean energy solutions. “As companies and utilities look for solutions to bridge the gap between traditional energy generation—e.g., renewables like solar and wind power—they also want something that could replace the chemical-based energy storage system and solutions,” said Kanapi.

The Amber Kinetics’ A32, is also safe for the environment. The flywheel is made of 95% steel hence recyclable, and does not degrade in performance over time, even with its 30-year life span. The A32 is non-toxic, non-flammable and does not depend on or contain any rare-earth metals.

Last year, per a Department of Energy report, the Philippines generated just 22 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, below the global average of 30.3 percent. Currently, the government is working to make renewable energy account for 35 percent of the country’s power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. Amber-Kinetics aims to contribute to the country’s shift to renewable energy. With the Amber-Kinetics A32 FESS, the future is bright, paving the way for a new frontier in energy storage.

ADVT.

This article is brought to you by Amber Kinetics.