Electrostatic motor

A system, comprising:

• an electrostatic machine, comprising:
• a rotor plate comprising a plurality of rotor electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
• a stator plate comprising a plurality of stator electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a housing defining the rotor plate, the stator plate, and at least a portion of the shaft;
• wherein the shaft is mechanically coupled to exchange torque with a load;
• an excitation circuit electrically coupled to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate at a first end, and electrically couplable to exchange power at a second end with a selected one of an electrical power source or an electrical load;
• wherein the excitation circuit is configured to:
• in a first motoring mode, provide excitation power to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate, wherein the shaft provides positive torque to the load;
• and
• in a second generating mode, wherein the shaft receives negative torque from the load, operably couple at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate to the electrical power source.