•ABB motors and converters help S4 Energy’s flywheels improve energy storage and release efficiency at a power plant in the Netherlands

• Innovative hybrid systems combine large battery storage systems with flywheels to keep the grid frequency stable

S4 Energy, based in the Netherlands, is a deep energy storage company. The company uses ABB energy-feedback converters and high-performance process motors to power its KINEXT Energy storage flywheel, which aims to improve the stability of the European power grid. The company has built an innovative hybrid energy storage system in Heilschhovad, about 35 kilometers from Amsterdam, by combining six flywheels with a large battery pack in a 9-megawatt energy storage project. The system, which has been fully operational since April 2022, can quickly release and store energy according to demand, keeping the grid frequency within a strictly controlled range and thus ensuring grid stability.

In addition to improving grid stability, the energy storage system also provides active support for the local Luna wind farm. In this project, the energy storage system acted as a frequency modulation damping device in the short term to prevent the turbine output imbalance and avoid production loss. In this pilot project, S4 Energy aims to demonstrate that the use of storage systems can significantly increase net revenues for wind projects, thereby reducing their dependence on subsidies.

Each KINEXT unit contains a 5,000-kilogram flywheel with a diameter of about 2.6 meters that spins relatively slowly, with a peak speed of about 1,800 RPM. ABB motors and converters can obtain excess electric energy from the power grid to speed up the rotation of the flywheel and convert the electric energy into kinetic energy for storage. When a quick injection of power is needed to keep the frequency steady, the energy-feedback converter converts kinetic energy from the flywheel back to electricity within milliseconds.

(1/2) ABB Energy feedback inverter and high performance process motor power S4 Energy’s KINEXT Energy storage flywheel.

(2/2) In addition to improving grid stability, the energy storage system also provides active support for the local Luna wind farm.

Dominque Becker Hoff, Project Director at S4 Energy, said: “The hybrid energy storage system at Helschhovad is our latest and the first time we have used it to support a wind farm. “We plan to accelerate our business and expand our services, and ABB’s expertise in pairing flywheels with drives and motors is critical to achieving this goal.”

“This project with S4 Energy is an example of ABB’s drive to decarbonize power facilities,” said Marcel Zevenbergen, sales manager of the System Drive Business unit at ABB’s Motion Control Business unit in the Netherlands. The combination of flywheels and batteries provides an excellent option for both areas and can further enhance the viability of renewable energy projects such as wind and solar power. In addition, flywheels are a good solution for other electrification and industrial applications.”

ABB is a technology leader in electrical and automation, committed to a more sustainable and efficient future. ABB integrates engineering expertise and software technology into solutions that optimize manufacturing, transportation, energy and operations. With a history of more than 130 years of excellence, ABB employs about 105,000 people worldwide to drive innovation and accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

ABB’s Motion Control Division drives the world and promotes energy conservation. We continue to innovate and push the boundaries of technology to empower our customers, industry and society to achieve a low carbon future. Through digitally enabled drives, motors and services, our customers and partners will receive improved product performance, safety and reliability. We combine our expertise and technical strength to provide reliable inverter and motor solutions for a wide range of industrial applications. Through service channels all over the world, we always bring convenient service to customers. Based on more than 130 years of experience in the field of electric drive chain, we are making innovations every day.