Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. began the operation of a four-hour kinetic energy storage system using flywheel technology.
The demonstration project was developed in partnership with Amber Kinetics and Elemental Excelerator at the Campbell Industrial Park on Oahu.
The 32-kWh storage system stores electricity as rotational kinetic energy and is capable of unlimited cycling with zero capacity loss over a 20-year-plus service life, according to a March 12 release.
Field data collected from the flywheel system expected to help plan for forthcoming utility-owned energy storage projects in Hawaii.
"Our evaluation of this very promising energy storage system will help us determine how we can use flywheels to help integrate renewables at a lower cost while improving reliability and resiliency of the grid," said Colton Ching, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for planning and technology.
Additionally, the Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. subsidiary on March 12 announced an approximately $3.36 monthly rate reduction for its customers on Oahu due to the recent federal tax reform.
