Systems at UKAEA’s Culham site that were previously part of the Joint European Torus (JET) fusion research project could be used to provide grid services and the JET team is looking for companies who could repurpose them.
A preliminary feasibility study has identified that two flywheel generator convertors (FGCs) could be repurposed to provide more than 5 GW of inertia to the system. UKAEA is looking for third parties who could upgrade and operate the JET flywheels for grid load balancing as part of the National Grid Stability Services (ESO),
The two FGCs can each supply 2600 MJ to their respective magnet load coils with a peak power of 410 MVA. Each flywheel generator is currently independently operated and used as energy storage for Joint European Torus (JET) pulses. They are driven by 8 MW motors with the flywheel output diode rectified for up to 400 MW DC output. A concept has been developed to connect the flywheel to the 400 kV transmission network via Culham’s existing connection.
A site visit is being planned that will allow interested parties to view the facility which houses the flywheel generators and meet technical and commercial representatives from UKAEA.