Hydraulic　presses　(HPs)　are　often　preferred　in　metal　processing　for　their　high　load　capacity.　Unfortunately,　they　are　also　known　for　their　high　energy　consumption　and　low　energy　efficiency.　The　mismatch　between　installed　and　demanded　power　is　the　primary　cause　of　low　energy　efficiency　among　HPs.　To　cope　with　this　problem,　this　paper　proposes　an　energy-recovery　method　based　on　a　flywheel　energy　storage　system　(FESS)　to　reduce　the　installed　power　and　improve　the　energy　efficiency　of　HPs.　In　the　proposed　method,　the　FESS　is　used　to　store　redundant　energy　when　the　demanded　power　is　less　than　the　installed　power.　During　pressing　with　slow　falling,　the　stored　energy　is　recycled　in　combination　with　an　AC　motor　to　work　against　the　heavy　load,　thereby　reducing　the　motor　power　burden.　Furthermore,　unlike　traditional　FESS,　a　variable　frequency　drive　scheme　and　specific　control　scheme　are　employed　to　ensure　the　load　characteristics　of　the　motor　and　improve　the　energy　storage　density　of　the　FESS.　As　different　shapes　of　flywheels　have　different　moments　of　inertia　and　energy　storage　efficiency,　this　study　also　examined　the　energy　density　of　the　FESS　under　different　shapes　and　obtained　the　best　fit　shape　for　the　hydraulic　power　unit.　Finally,　a　test　platform　is　set　up　to　verify　the　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　hydraulic　drive　system.　Results　show　that　the　installed　power　is　reduced　by　approximately　41.9　%　and　the　energy　consumption　is　reduced　by　53　%,　compared　to　the　traditional　HP.