The Europe flywheel energy storage Industry size was estimated at USD 1.17 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 1.50 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 2.51% from 2024 to 2033. The driving factors of the flywheel energy storage Industry are the growth in the renewable energy sector and growing demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions.

Could Flywheels Be the Future of Energy Storage?

Flywheels are one of the world's oldest forms of energy storage, but they could also be the future. This article examines flywheel technology, its benefits, and the research from Graz University of Technology.

Specifically, recent years have increased interest in flywheels. A project team from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) recently developed a prototype flywheel storage system that can store electrical energy and provide fast charging capabilities.

Understanding the Flywheel

Flywheels are considered one of the world's oldest forms of energy storage, yet they are still relevant today.

On a high level, flywheel energy storage systems have two major components: a rotor (i.e., flywheel) and an electric motor. These systems work by having the electric motor accelerate the rotor to high speeds, effectively converting the original electrical energy into a stored form of rotational energy (i.e., angular momentum). The flywheel continues to store energy as long as it continues to spin; in this way, flywheel energy storage systems act as mechanical energy storage. When this energy needs to be retrieved, the rotor transfers its rotational energy back to a generator, effectively converting it into usable electrical energy.

A major benefit of a flywheel as opposed to a conventional battery is that their expected service life is not dependent on the number of charging cycles or age. The more one charges and discharges the device in a standard battery, the more it degrades. This degradation becomes a significant shortcoming for batteries in local energy storage solutions, where charging and discharging may occur rapidly and frequently.

Flywheels, on the other hand, do not degrade proportionally with age or charge/discharge cycles. This makes them a viable short-term storage system, particularly effective when energy is frequently supplied and removed.

Flywheel Energy Storage Industry Size in global 2024 to 2033

According to recent study by Precedence Research, the global Flywheel Energy Storage Industry size was valued at USD 1.39  billion in 2023 and is poised to exceed USD 2.44 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 2.44% between 2024 and 2033. . The flywheel energy storage Industry is driven by the growing need for a continuous power supply (UPS).

Key Takeaways

• Europe dominated Industry with the largest Industry share of 84% in 2023.


• By application, the utility segment has contributed the major Industry share of 56% in 2023.


• By application, the transportation segment is the fastest growing Industry during the forecast period.

The growing energy storage Industry and automobile industry, globally, have provided a boost to the Industry. Increasing demand from UPS and data center application segments has driven the Industry for flywheel energy storage systems, within this region. Similarly, distributed energy generation, which involves the generation of power at the place of consumption, is expected to result in augmented demand for the flywheel energy storage systems, within this region. The U.S. held the largest share among all countries in the North American flywheel energy storage Industry, in 2022.

The Energy Storage Association (ESA) looks after the energy storage affairs in this country. Problems arising due to the interruptions and fluctuations of power supply have resulted in an increase in demand for UPS systems from the commercial sector in the U.S. This has resulted in enhancing the Industry for UPS systems within the country.

Industrial standards and compliances are the critical references used in the design, testing, installation, manufacture, and maintenance of flywheel power systems. Following the guidelines, set forth by industrial standards and regulations ensures compliance, minimalist's liability, and collectively lowers overall cost by eliminating wasted time and effort to develop high-quality flywheel energy storage systems.

The flywheel energy storage systems Industry in the U.S. is growing in accordance with the growing energy storage Industry in this country. Li-ion and lead-acid batteries are the most commonly used energy storage systems here. However, advantages of flywheel energy storage systems such as higher efficiency and longer life are projected to increase the demand for flywheel energy storage systems, within the country.

Application Insights

The utility segment dominated the flywheel energy storage Industry in 2023. Flywheels are less complicated and require less upkeep than other energy storage systems like batteries when it comes to maintenance. Utilities seeking dependable, affordable storage options with little lifetime expenses find them appealing. Utilities aggressively incorporate renewable energy sources into their systems as the globe transitions to a greener energy landscape. Flywheel energy storage is valuable to renewable energy sources because it offers quick-responding storage options that help balance out erratic wind and solar power production, improving grid stability and dependability.

The transportation segment is the fastest growing flywheel energy storage Industry during the forecast period. The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has surged due to the global change in transportation towards electrification. Whether hybrid or entirely electric, EVs need effective energy storage systems to manage and store energy for propulsion. In this regard, flywheel energy storage devices are superior to conventional batteries in several ways, including high power density, quick response times, and extended cycle life. Flywheel energy storage is not limited to personal electric vehicles; it is also used in commercial fleets and public transit systems, such as electric buses and trains.

These industries have a need for energy storage, such as high-power requirements, a lot of stop-and-go traffic, and the ability to use regenerative braking. In these applications, flywheel devices can improve overall energy efficiency by effectively capturing and releasing energy throughout cycles of accelerating and braking.

The defense & aerospace segment shows a notable growth in the flywheel energy storage Industry during the forecast period. Flywheel energy storage systems are dependable and long-lasting, making them perfect for demanding applications like aerospace and defense, where system failures can have catastrophic repercussions. Flywheels are a reliable energy storage option since they may function effectively without experiencing appreciable performance deterioration over time, unlike batteries that deteriorate with time.

Flywheel Energy Storage Industry Companies : The major players operating in the flywheel energy storage Industry are Langley Holdings plc, Amber Kinectics, Inc, VYCON, PUNCH Flybrid, OXTO Energy, POWERTHRU, STORNETIC GmbH Adaptive Balancing Power GmbH, Energiestro, and Others.

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