Offering new efficiency opportunities in any mature market can be difficult. In many instances, the concept of “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” applies. But when a mature market has reached its capacity to operate efficiently, a new way to get that little extra out of a system becomes a good place to find substantial profit.

Beacon Power Corp., a company involved in design, development and commercialization of advanced power grid frequency equipment, operates in three of the largest US open-bid electrical power markets. It offers advanced products designed to make power grid systems more efficient and safe through patented flywheel energy storage technology designed to stabilizes energy grid frequencies.

Although the company’s product base may sound fairly esoteric in concept, the overall product mix is designed to make power generation on a large scale more cost effective and efficient. This is accomplished by offering advanced technology products to existing and future power generators. The company, however, does not just design, develop and commercialize advanced products for companies wanting a source of grid frequency stabilization. It also works to build frequency stabilized flywheel plants up to 20,000 megawatts. Currently, the company is working toward having two frequency stabilized, flywheel frequency regulation plants in operation by the end of 2008.

Although the permitting process for new sources of acceptable power are stringent, and sometimes lengthy, the company appears to have hit upon a technology that is clean and safe while providing stable grid frequency operation. As of May 19, 2008, the company has approval for its first plant to begin construction and operation. Another flywheel plant is currently working through the environmental process and is hopefully slated for the end of the year. New sources of electrical efficiencies are crucial to the country’s energy needs, with Beacon Power being on the front lines ready to provide them.

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