SeaTwirl has won a patent in the USA for a storage solution for kinetic energy that is said to optimize the rotational speed of a wind turbine.
According to SeaTwirl, a problem with wind power is the voltage fluctuations that come from wind speed variations and the granted patent offers a solution to store kinetic energy in sort of a flywheel.
The flywheel can be used to optimize the rotational speed of the turbine and therefore stabilize the electric grid, the company said.
The solution works by moving mass to or from the center of rotation by which the output power can be maintained with less wind and thus be optimized to reduce fluctuations on the electric grid.
“The patent is part of our strategic work to build a broad patent portfolio. By protecting technical solutions that optimizes operations and reduces the stress on the power grid, we can strengthen our market position,” said Gabriel Strängberg , CEO of SeaTwirl.
SeaTwirl launched and installed its 30kW SeaTwirl S1 prototype turbine at the Lysekil test site in 2015. The device had endured all weather conditions including heavy storms, and the company is now in the process of developing a full-scale unit – SeaTwirl S2 – a 1MW turbine planned to be completed by 2020.