Renewable energy is a hot topic these days. In the face of the climate crisis, with extreme weather conditions and declining ecosystems ravaging nations worldwide, it’s easy to see why. More governments are enacting policies that champion renewables to mitigate climate change. Australia is no stranger to green energy, leading the world in rooftop solar panels with a promise to keep prices and emissions low.
However, even if world leaders are giving greater attention and importance to the transition to renewables, it also depends on our technologies’ current state. Some hurdles are the intermittent nature of renewables and available storage solutions. In areas with heavy rainfall, solar energy can only be used if there’s an efficient form of storage, but traditional storage methods may not be enough to power future sustainable cities.
The classic form of energy storage is the chemical battery – found in nearly every type of modern device. One of the most popular types of batteries is the lithium-ion battery, found most often in cell phones. Unfortunately, it’s also the battery prone to overheating, leading to safety concerns. Lithium-ion batteries have other associated problems. According to Bill Gates, the average household’s energy bill would triple if they relied solely on renewable energy stored in these batteries. The average lifespan of this battery is only about three years, and after this, they are disposed of. In the quest for accessible, affordable, and green energy, lithium-ion batteries may cause environmental damage.
This is the problem engineers and scientists at Amber Kinetics, the world leaders in Flywheel Energy Storage Solutions (FESS), set out to solve. Their work is a resounding success; with Amber Kinetics’ innovative flywheel storage design, the M32 provides an efficient and safe energy storage solution. The flywheel is a kinetic energy device that can convert energy from renewable sources, like the sun and wind, into the energy of motion for storage. Amber Kinetics’ M32 flywheel has a power capacity of 8kW and a discharge duration of four hours. The flywheels can be scaled up to tens or even hundreds of megawatts when grouped.
Amber Kinetics’ recyclable flywheels are considered a more environmentally safe technology without the need for toxic and hazardous materials. They also require less maintenance than other technologies and have a lifespan of 30 years. In a future with renewable energy, it is time to let go of convenient but costly options and make room for innovation. The time to act on climate change is now. As new legislation works to implement accessible, economical, renewable energy, Amber Kinetics’ technology is at the forefront.
