Kinetic energy storage firm expands capacity in PH

MANILA – Amber Kinetics will complete its second manufacturing plant of kinetic energy storage system (KESS) here by the end of this year, expanding its production capacity by more than double.

 

In a media briefing Wednesday, Amber Kinetics Philippines director for business development Roberto Kanapi said the new manufacturing line for its flywheel technology will increase the company’s capacity to produce 1,800 to 2,000 KESS annually.

 

The firm’s facility in the First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas currently manufactures 600 to 700 units of flywheel energy storage in a year.

 

Kanapi said the new line is expected to cater to the huge demands from Australia, as well as the increasing demand in the Philippines amid the increasing renewable energy projects here.

 

“We have identified the countries that we like to go in(to), and Australia is a huge market for energy storage. We were also completely surprised by the potential of the market. So the two main markets for the Philippine plant at this point are Australia and the Philippines,” he said.

 

The Philippine market is also becoming a potential market for energy storage systems as the country targets to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and to 50 percent by 2040.

 

A flywheel technology energy storage system is a mechanical battery that stores energy in the form of kinetic energy.

 

Unlike other energy storage systems, flywheel technology has no degradation in capacity and does not emit hazardous materials. It also has a longer life span of 30 years.

 

Kanapi shared that Amber Kinetics and Shell will be partnering to power some of the latter’s gasoline stations through solar and using flywheel technology for energy storage.

 

Since 2018, Amber Kinetics have invested around USD150 million to USD160 million, he said. (PNA)