  In this paper, a kinetic energy recovery system for large telescopes is
presented, with the Atacama Large Aperture Submm Telescope (AtLAST) as a
possible target application. The system consists of supercapacitors integrated
in the DC-link of motor inverters through a bidirectional DC-DC converter. The
optimal system design, based on the energy flow analysis within the telescope's
power electronics, is introduced. The proposed system is simulated as part of
the telescope's drives, providing not only a significant reduction in energy
consumption of the telescope due to motion, but also remarkably reducing (or
shaving) grid power peaks. We find that the system presented here can
contribute to making both current and future observatories more sustainable.
