🌍 CSM at Becour | Sustainability Enthusiast | 24/7 Renewable Energy Matching advocate | Born at 356.42 ppm
GRAVITY BATTERY - One of the most fascinating energy storage innovations - as well as a clever use of mine-ridden brownfields to be sure. 🤔But can it live up to the potential of "a novel and promising technology for large-scale energy storage technology"?🤔 (Wenxuan Tong et al., 2022) ⚙️ Gravitricity Ltd, a Scottish company, is repurposing Europe's deep Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland for its first full-scale gravity energy store prototype. 🏗️ The mine, decommissioned in 2022, will house an energy storage system using gravity to raise and lower weights, offering "some of the best characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage". 🔄 Excess power, such as from wind turbines, will lift weights up the 530m auxiliary shaft; releasing them turns winches into generators, supplying either a quick burst or a slow trickle of electricity as needed. 🔋 The gravity energy system can store 2MW of power, integrating into the local energy grid, offering a long-term solution for renewable energy storage, according to recent research. 🌐 Abandoned mine shafts worldwide could potentially store up to 70TWh of power, equivalent to global daily electricity consumption. 🚀 The Pyhäjärvi community, in collaboration with Gravitricity, aims to turn the mine into Europe's first Gravistore deployment, creating "low carbon jobs" and revitalizing the region. 🌍 The mine, closed in 2022 after extracting over 60 million tonnes of ore since 1962, is part of various community-driven projects, including a solar farm, tech startups, and an underground 5G network, fostering regeneration. Reported by Euronews Picture provided to Thermopedia by GRAVIENT #energy #renewableenergy #storage #energystorage #green #future #innovation #sustainability #technology
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