Manila, Philippines: On May 20, 2025, following the successful product testing and demonstration, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) and Amber Kinetics (AK) signed an MOU extending their collaboration agreement to promote KHI’s iVSG (Virtual Synchronous Generator) technology with AK’s FESS (Flywheel Energy Storage System). This partnership is significant and powerful as it aims to provide reliability, stability and resiliency to the grid. As more renewable energy sources are added into the grid, the more unstable it becomes, which can be seen in the recent major blackout that happened in the Iberian Peninsula.
In the case of KHI, they highly evaluated AK’s FESS over chemical batteries due to its superior features like unlimited cycling, no fire or explosion risk, and no environmental disposal issues, as well as AK’s proven track record of having more than 1.5 million cumulative operating hours.
The combined iVSG and FESS technology provides a multi-faceted solution for modernizing power grids. Its primary application is enhancing Grid Stability by providing the inertia and resiliency needed to manage the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources. Kawasaki’s iVSG enables power-electronic-based assets to mimic the stabilizing behavior of traditional generators, while Amber Kinetics’ FESS can absorb and dispatch energy instantaneously. This is crucial for Augmenting Renewable Energy Projects, where the flywheel smooths the variable output from solar or wind, ensuring a reliable power supply. This combined capability is ideal for supporting the hundreds of microgrid installations in the Philippines’ pipeline. Beyond grid-scale renewables, this technology is vital for emerging applications. For Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging, the FESS can act as a buffer, absorbing grid energy during low-demand periods and releasing it rapidly to power DC fast chargers. This mitigates grid strain and allows for the deployment of fast-charging hubs without requiring expensive grid infrastructure upgrades. In the Telecom sector, the FESS offers a highly reliable and low-maintenance alternative to battery-based Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) for cell towers and data centers, providing instantaneous power during outages to ensure service continuity. Furthermore, the system’s rapid response time enables participation in Electricity Trading through ancillary service markets. The flywheel can perform high-value frequency regulation, rapidly adjusting to grid imbalances to generate revenue while enhancing overall grid health.
The need for the FESS and iVSG combined technology has been recognized by the governments of Japan and the Philippines, both show keen interest and strong support for the new FESS and iVSG technology due to the versatile applications, and overall sustainability, in their recent visit to AK’s testing facility. AK and KHI also paid a courtesy visit to the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines who welcomed the technology for the hundreds of microgrid installations currently in the pipeline, in addition to the growing grid stability requirements due to the increase in share of renewables.
The initial focus of AK and KHI’s partnership is to implement and expand their combined iVSG and FESS technology in the priority markets of Australia, Southeast Asia, and the USA extending later to Europe and the rest of the world to help create a more reliable and sustainable energy future.
About Amber Kinetics
Amber Kinetics is a global leader in flywheel-based energy storage systems. The company’s technology provides a durable and safe energy storage solution with key advantages such as unlimited cycling capability, no fire or explosion risk, and no hazardous materials requiring special disposal. With a proven track record of over 1.5 million cumulative operating hours, Amber Kinetics’ flywheel systems are designed for long-duration applications, helping to improve grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy. The company’s systems are being deployed in priority markets including Australia, Southeast Asia, and the USA.
About Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. is a Japanese public multinational corporation which manufactures motorcycles, engines, heavy equipment, energy, aerospace and defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.