The result is a single device that is expected to deliver 1 mw continuously for several hours, or other combinations of discharge depending on the needs of the individual customer. Power Tree’s proprietary technology represents a breakthrough in the science of energy storage.
Power Tree’s patent application was prepared and filed by the well-known patent law firm, Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds.
David E. Brook, a founding partner of the firm, was quoted as saying, “We are proud to be working with Power Tree Corp on this important clean energy technology.”
Greg Stuart, chief executive officer of Power Tree commented, “Our core design and construction methods, as submitted in our patent materials, display a radical departure from prior art in the flywheel arena. This unique and elegant design allows for us to scale our rotor in both mass and velocity, enabling vast storage capacity and long discharge with minimal conversion losses. This gives us a great advantage compared to other flywheel competitors who are limited in power output for each device and essentially restricted to UPS functions with relatively short discharge cycles of seconds or minutes at a time as opposed to hours of continuous megawatt discharge with our single unit.” Stuart continued, “Our technology also compares favorably to other forms of electrical storage systems such as batteries or compressed air systems that are often prohibitively expensive, inefficient, have limited recharge cycles or present environmental dangers. Power Tree’s technology represents an efficient, cost-effective storage solution that produces no harmful emissions because of its mechanical nature. The filing of our utility patent is a significant milestone in the development of what we believe is an important leap forward in the energy storage arena.”
Power Tree’s technology has widespread applications and economic benefits. Commercial customers can dramatically reduce electric bills by taking advantage of the economic arbitrage of peak and off-peak billing. Utilities can decrease new infrastructure requirements for electricity generation and transmission planned over the next several decades by storing energy for use during peak demand times. Power Tree’s technology also has applications for renewables such as wind and solar where obstacles associated with intermittency and transmission can be alleviated through a viable storage solution.
Stuart added, “There is an enormous opportunity, in particular, for grid connected storage technologies that can address the challenges faced by the renewable sector. As it stands now, the best wind corridors in the United States are unable to efficiently transmit electricity to industrial centers that are often long distances away. This dilemma was highlighted recently by T. Boone Pickens who announced he was halting his efforts on his wind project in Texas due in part to transmission challenges. Power Tree’s technology can be a key element to the viability of wind power as our devices can be utilized to store and transmit electricity over long distances more efficiently and at off peak hours, providing a more elastic grid infrastructure.” Mr. Stuart concluded, “Whether it be applications for commercial customers, utilities or renewables, we believe Power Tree is extremely well positioned to be a vital player in the ongoing efforts to upgrade our grid infrastructure.”
