Swiss engineering group ABB and Scottish gravity energy storage firm Gravitricity have agreed to explore how hoist expertise and technology can benefit gravity energy storage in disused mineshafts.
Gravitricity has developed a gravity energy storage system called Gravistore. It raises and lowers heavy weights in underground shafts. It said this offers some of the best characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage. It expects Gravistores will be able to store more than 20MWh of energy.
It said the system can operate for decades without performance degradation. The company has a scale demonstrator in Leith, Scotland, and is exploring the potential of decommissioned mines worldwide.
ABB has installed over 1,000 hoist solutions internationally. It will provide research and development, product development and specialists in the design, engineering and operations of mine hoists. ABB will also supply mechanical, electrical and hoisting control technologies. Gravitricity said it brings specialist expertise in grid compliance and control systems.
Martin Wright, Gravitricity’s co-founder and executive chairman, said its system is low cost and does not need rare earth metals. Charles Bennett of ABB Process Industries, said: “We are eager to progress with our collaboration and explore the possibilities as we become part of the next generation of renewable energy storage systems and make use of mine shafts that are no longer in service.”
