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Generating alternative energy

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THE School of Engineering has acquired a research grant to study the storage of energy generated by wind power. A group headed by Professor Jayawant has been awarded over £350,000 under the European Commission's alternative energy programme, JOULE.

Storage devices used in parallel with solar and wind turbine electricity generators are essential to smooth out fluctuations in wind and solar conditions. This grant will be used to study the use of large diameter flywheels running in magnetic bearings.

Past research has attempted to use flywheels as back-up electricity supplies or "mechanical batteries". Prof Jayawant and his group, who have studied magnetic bearings for 20 years, have proposed an innovative storage system which will use magnetic bearings with a suspended rotating member, which will eliminate friction and the need for maintenance.

This research may be applied to providing uninterrupted electricity to small and isolated communities in developing countries and parts of Europe. The Sussex research group will be working in partnership with three small and medium sized enterprises, (or SMEs,) and faculty at the University of Patras in Greece.

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Friday January 30th 1998