On January 2, CHN Energy launched the world's largest single-unit magnetic levitation flywheel energy storage project, marking a significant advancement in energy storage technology.

Aerial view of the magnetic levitation flywheel energy storage project

The 4MW/1MWh project, located at CHN Energy Penglai Branch in Shandong province, is part of a pilot demonstration program by the National Energy Administration for new energy storage technologies and represents a major technological milestone for China's energy sector. The project comprises three 4MW/1MWh flywheel units, for a total capacity of 12MW/3MWh. Integrated with two 330MW thermal power units at the Penglai facility, the system participates in secondary frequency regulation through Automatic Generation Control (AGC). Utilizing a 6kV internal power segment for charging and discharging, the project effectively modulates the grid-connected power of the generators, improving the overall frequency regulation performance of the units.

Magnetic levitation flywheel energy storage technology offers several advantages, including rapid response times, a long operational lifespan and low maintenance costs, providing an innovative solution for enhancing power system stability. Operation of the project has already demonstrated a reduction in coal consumption per kilowatt-hour by 2-3 grams for the connected thermal power units, resulting in an estimated annual decrease of approximately 37,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This not only improves the economic efficiency of the thermal power units but also contributes significantly to environmental protection efforts.

The successful grid integration of this project provides valuable technical support for the clean and efficient utilization of coal and the integration of new energy sources in China. It will serve as a demonstration project for AGC frequency regulation of thermal power units within CHN Energy and promote the wider adoption of this technology.