An apparatus for storing energy includes a subsurface well. A cable is cooperatively engaged with a winch. The winch has a motor/generator wherein electrical power applied to the motor/generator operates the winch to retract the cable, and wherein motion applied to the cable operates the winch to generate electrical power. A plurality of weights is disposed proximate the well. The plurality of weights is shaped to enable movement along an interior of the subsurface well. Means for selectively connecting each of the weights to the cable is provided, wherein each of the plurality of weights is individually connectable to the cable to either (i) induce motion on the cable by gravity or (ii) be withdrawn from the well by the cable.

An illustrative energy storage system includes an energy storage device, a processor coupled to the energy storage device, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store instructions adapted for execution by the processor to control and monitor operation of the energy storage device. The instructions are arranged into functional modules. Each functional module is associated with a memory cache in the memory. Control processes depending on the functional module read last known values from the associated memory cache. Reading last known values from the associated memory enables changes to the functional modules without shutting down the energy storage device.

The present invention is related generally to electric energy production and storage and more particularly to three devices that can work independently or as a system for generating, storing and retrieving of significant volume of green electric energy from sea and ocean waves. The present invention comprises of three module systems for wave power amplifying, wave power harnessing and conversion to electric energy, and energy storage. The system could double the height and quadruple the power of any wave, harness and convert all the wave power to electrical energy, store it without loss for as long as needed, and release it when and as needed.

A foldable touch screen display device made up of flexible or tiled display segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded state which also includes a power generation system. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone or smaller. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a larger phone or tablet computer, which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. The device form factor may also be a flip phone configuration. Both folded states may include an integrated speaker and microphone. The power generation system utilizes the force applied to the hinge of the device to ultimately recharge the batteries embedded within the device. The device may further include sensors to indicate the position of each display segment. In one embodiment, a module attached to, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least one segment of the flexible display or rigid display may contain all or substantially all processing and memory, along with a communications system, which may be used in any folded state.

A wind power plant for providing electrical power to a utility grid is provided, the wind power plant including: at least one wind turbine having a wind turbine generator coupled to a wind turbine rotation shaft to which plural rotor blades are mounted, the wind turbine providing electric power at an output terminal; at least one power conversion system, each including: a plant motor electrically coupled and configured to receive the electric power from the output terminal of the at least one wind turbine and convert it into rotational power of a plant motor shaft; a plant generator mechanically coupled to the plant motor shaft and electrically coupleable to the electric utility grid.

A mass displacement electricity generator, having a tower and a first mass suspended by the tower for falling and lifting. The first mass is suspended by a pulley arrangement including a first set of pulleys fixed to the tower above the first mass and a second set of pulleys fixed to the first mass. A cable extends through the first and second sets of pulleys and one end of the cable is fixed to one of the tower or to the first mass. A winch includes a barrel about which the cable winds off as the first mass falls and winds on as the first mass lifts. The winch is in driving connection with a flywheel so that as the first mass falls, the cable winds off the barrel and barrel rotation drives the flywheel to rotate. The flywheel is in driving connection with a generator so that rotation of the flywheel drives the generator for generating electrical energy.

The present invention provides a flywheel having a high energy density, a designing method which facilitates the designing of the flywheel, and an energy storage system which can achieve both an increase in storage energy and a reduction in weight by adopting the flywheel. A flywheel A includes: a low-density disk 10 having a low average density; and a high-density outer edge section 11 which is provided on the outer circumference of the low-density disk 10, and has an average density higher than that of the low-density disk 10.

A roadway-embedded electric energy generation system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a pressure plate embedded with piezoelectric elements are disposed in a driveway/roadway/roadway and is coupled to pressure sensors. The pressure plate generates electricity when compressed by vehicle weights. The electricity generated is stored in a power storage module and managed via a control box that regulates power distribution to external grids or local utilities such as streetlights or electric vehicle charging stations. The system also includes a turbine generator to produce electricity. In another embodiment, the system includes a plurality of road energy tiles, each incorporating flywheel generators and activated by surface pressure due to compression of vehicle weights. The tiles are embedded into the driving surface and are connected to an energy storage and control module equipped with cooling mechanisms and power control functionalities.

A power control system includes a control unit, a motor, an electricity storing unit, and a generator set. The control unit includes a charging/driving controller and a load controller electrically connected to a load. The motor can be driven by electricity of the electricity storing unit. The generator set includes a revolving wheel which is driven by the motor for driving a driving power generator and an energy storage generator. The driving power generator provides electricity to the load. Electrical energy generated by the energy storage generator is used for charging the electricity storing unit. When the generator set breaks down, the electricity of the electricity storing unit is provided to the load through a control of the charging/driving controller. The power control system supplies sufficient electrical energy to the load under low energy consumption condition and has advantages of environment protection and fault alarm.

An electric energy storage and recovery system is provided to store electric energy from a generator when it is not required for the electric power grid. The system employs a controller to switch a generator between operating as an electric motor in power storage mode and operating as a generator in a power generation mode. A weight engaged to a distal end of a cable may be wound upon a reel by the generator when operating as an electric motor. The weight, in an elevated position, will pull the cable from the reel to rotate the generator and produce electric power when operating in power generation mode.