The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has partnered with US technology firm Amber Kinetics in testing the feasibility of a storage technology for its renewable energy.
Meralco said Amber Kinetic’s long-duration flywheel energy storage systems will be demonstrated in its research and development facility in Pasig City to test how it can benefit the transition to cleaner sources of energy.
Meralco said Amber Kinetics’ energy storage technology is capable of a four-hour discharge duration without degradation in performance and a long lifespan with a 30-year design life.
The technology which works by accelerating a flywheel rotor to a very high speed is deemed sustainable as it is made up of recyclable steel and does not contain nor emit any hazardous materials.
Meralco added an engineering procurement contract was also awarded by Amber Kinetics to Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp. for the construction of the tech firm’s flywheel energy storage testing area. The area will be developed at Amber Kinetics’ second manufacturing facility in the Philippines to ramp up the production of its flywheels storage.
Meralco said that a locally manufactured energy storage solution will benefit its subsidiary, Meralco Power Gen Corp. which plans to develop as much as 1,500 megawatts (MW) of energy from clean sources over the next seven years. – Jed Macapagal
