Gravity energieopslagtoren ontwerpfoto s

Could gravity be Europe's first gravity energy storage system?

Edinburgh-based startup Gravitricity is set to turn one of Europe’s deepest mines into the continent’s first-ever gravity energy storage system.

Can gravity be used for energy storage?

Gravitricity isn’t the only one harnessing gravity for energy storage. Swiss startup Energy Vault has secured a healthy $280mn in VC funding to develop its system, which comprises a huge building full of elevators that lift and lower massive concrete blocks.

Is gravity a form of energy storage?

Gravity batteries are not based on chemistry, but on the force of gravity. Underpinned by Newton's law – what goes up, must come down – this new field of energy storage technology is, in principle, remarkably simple.

How does gravity work?

Gravitricity works on the same basic principle, except in this case the springs are 500- to 5,000-tonne weights. When held aloft by powerful cables and winches, these weights store large amounts of potential energy. When that energy is needed, they can be lowered down a mineshaft to spin the winch and feed electricity into the grid.

What is Energy Vault?

Link Copied! Energy Vault's gravity-based storage system rises over the Swiss town of Arbedo-Castione. In the Swiss municipality of Arbedo-Castione, a 70-meter crane standstall. Six arms protrude from the top, hoisting giant blocks into the sky. But these aren’t building blocks, and the crane isn’t being used for construction.

How tall is a gravity battery?

In a valley in southern Switzerland, the gravity battery prototype from Energy Vault stands more than 20 stories tall.