How much does a small communication base station flywheel energy storage cost

Equipment cost distribution for the flywheel energy storage systems. FESSs are used for short-duration power applications. Therefore, power capital cost ($/kW) could be a useful parameter to compare the economic feasibility of energy storage systems for similar power applications.

However, almost no bottom-up research has been done, i.e., research that considers the technical parameters to size the components of a flywheel storage system, estimate cost parameters based on the design, and provide a probable distribution of the total investment cost and levelized cost of storage.

The steel rotor flywheel has a lower capital cost and levelized cost of storage. The costs of composite and steel rotor flywheels are $190 and $146/MWh, respectively. Flywheel energy storage systems are increasingly being considered as a promising alternative to electro-chemical batteries for short-duration utility applications.

Utility-scale energy storage systems for stationary applications typically have power ratings of 1 MW or more . The largest flywheel energy storage is in New York, USA by Beacon Power with a power rating of 20 MW and 15 min discharge duration .

Electro-chemical ESSs can be used in short-duration services, , but they suffer from a short lifetime and the need to dispose of toxic materials, . Flywheel energy storage systems (FESSs) are a promising alternative to electro-chemical batteries for short-duration support to the grid .

There is a scarcity of research that evaluates the techno-economic performance of flywheels for large-scale applications. Evaluating the capital cost, levelized cost of storage, and scale factor is crucial to make an informed decision in future development and deployment of the technology.