Smart grid unlocks renewable power
New technology jointly developed in Hong Kong set to unleash potential of sustainable energy
The use of renewable energy sources could be more substantial after a breakthrough invention was found to stabilise the voltage of power systems with a renewable power supply.
The invention - Electric Springs - is a new smart grid device which applies the compression and extension principles of springs to counter the fluctuating voltages of renewable power.
In other words, when the voltage decreases, the Electric Springs will perform a boosting function and vice versa to maintain the voltage stability of a given power grid.
Power supplies of renewable energy sources - such as solar and wind - are highly intermittent due to natural weather conditions.
The principles of mechanical springs were first introduced by a British scientist Sir Robert Hooke in 1660 but were never applied to the electrical field.
"It is amazing how a 300-year-old law has laid down the foundation for smart power grids in the 21st century," said Ron Hui Shu-yuen, chair of power electronics at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong.