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Formula One energy storage technology is to be installed in two remote Scottish island communities to help stabilise their power grids, improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Partially funded through the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, the Isle of Eigg and Fair Isle will be the first sites in Europe to install Formula One developed composite flywheel energy storage technology into their power networks.
The technology was pioneered by Williams Advanced Engineering for Grand Prix racing and the company has now joined forces with the Fair Isle Electricity Company and Eigg Electric to identify possible operational improvements, energy saving and environmental benefits from installing the technology on each island.
The Fair Isle power network relies heavily on wind turbines and diesel generators to supplement the power system and can only guarantee power during the day. The new technology will smooth the power flowing from the wind turbines and inject stored energy when needed. This will improve the quality of power received by residents and reduce the reliance on costly diesel generators that produce high CO2 emissions.
Robert Mitchell, director of Fair Isle Electric Company, said: “We are delighted that Williams Advanced Engineering is going to be installing this equipment in 2014. This will provide a much needed “buffer” to improve our power quality and reduce how often we use the diesel generators.”
On the Isle of Eigg, power network utilises a variety of renewable sources which include solar, hydro and wind power and currently uses lead acid batteries to store excess renewable energy and smooth the flow of power. Using batteries to smooth power flow has the benefit of forsaking the need for diesel generators, but significantly reduces their life span.
Williams’ flywheel energy storage system can take on this role so that the batteries can then be used for their main job of long term bulk energy storage.
According to Williams, this will prolong battery life, improve the transient response of the network and increase its fault clearing capability.
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