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NEWS
F1 developed technology sees real world application
Remote Scottish communities become a test bed for innovative power generationWilliams Advanced Engineering, dedicated to refining Formula One technologies for the public, is set to implement its flywheel energy storage technology into two Scottish island communities to help sustain their power.
The Isle of Eigg uses a combination of green energy sources, including solar, hydro and wind power, as well as lead acid batteries to provide power for residents, while the Fair Isle power network uses wind turbines and diesel generators. These will be the first two sites in Europe to receive the F1-derived technology to streamline their aging power infrastructure.
Paul Newsome, Chief Technical Officer of Williams Advanced Engineering, said that “finding ways to make renewable energy more efficient and reliable is increasingly important,” and most people are inclined to agree.
The plan is for the company, a division of Williams F1, to leverage its flywheel energy storage technology to supplement the existing renewable energy sources. Basically, this new energy storage solution will replace the existing lead acid batteries and diesel generators, with this new system able to amass large quantities of power with little dissipation. Another benefit of utilising this form of energy storage is the reduced emissions and it will allow for a much more efficient way of storing energy.
Sarah Boden, Director of Eigg Electric, said that they “expect the new flywheel energy storage to be used for short term frequency regulation when generation drops off such as when clouds obscure the solar array.”
Similarly, Robert Mitchell, Director of Fair Isle Electric Company, said that “our two wind turbines produce more than enough power most of the time but they cannot store energy so this will be an excellent addition.”
Although it is often easy to dismiss F1 technology as outlandish and impractical, a more useful application of the tech can have some real world benefits. Newsome has also said that “this project is a very tangible example how technology originally developed for Formula One racing can have a direct relevance to people’s lives.”
How about it, do you think we will see more Formula One technology like this filter across into real world functionality?
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Written byTung Nguyen
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