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Long lifetime, low operating costs and easy maintenance

KINEXT: efficiency and flexibility

Immediate power

KINEXT represents a huge step forward in energy storage. This unique technology enables units to store large amounts of energy at very high efficiency rates (92%) with an exceptionally short response time (within milliseconds), and a very high power-to-energy ratio (up to 100).

Units contain a flywheel with an exceptionally high mass (5,000 kg) and large diameter, which spins relatively slowly (1,800rpm) and reaches a maximum speed of around 950 km/h. The resulting efficiency enables storing energy with very low stand-by losses and long idle times. KINEXT units have a long lifetime, low operating costs and easy maintenance.

Combined with S4 Energy’s proprietary software, KINEXT units offer great flexibility. The power-to-energy ratio can be adjusted per unit, tailoring it to a client’s specific needs. If necessary, a single KINEXT unit can provide up to 1 MW of power. KINEXT units can be used as standalone storage systems or as part of a larger set-up, in which one or more KINEXT units work together with other storage technology such as battery systems.

Download the KINEXT specifications (PDF) for more information.

Longer battery lifespan, sustainable, stable power

Innovative solutions: unique and smart

Primary control reserve / battery optimisation:

S4 Energy has developed a master control algorithm to deliver primary reserve, often called Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR), to the European grid. The master control algorithm manages a combination of KINEXT units and a battery system, playing to the strengths of each technology and making sure the bulk of the work is being done by KINEXT. The result is a substantially longer lifespan for the battery system.

Hourly crossings / managing sudden frequency variations:

Building on the success of the FCR algorithm above, S4 Energy developed an even faster control mechanism for dealing with the sudden frequency variations experienced during hourly crossings. This new algorithm was developed and live-tested in cooperation with Dutch grid operator TenneT. It provides a blueprint for managing other types of variations, in particular fluctuations caused by the increase in renewable energy sources.

Peak shaving:

For industrial end users, S4 Energy has developed an algorithm to suppress power peaks and avoid the related, costly penalties charged by DSOs (Distribution System Operators). The algorithm can also predict the demand profile and convert it into a smoothened block profile, eliminating the imbalance between forecast and actual usage.