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Building the future of renewables using gravitational energy storage

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Our technology

Green Gravity’s energy storage system moves heavy weights vertically in legacy mine shafts to capture and release the gravitational potential energy of the weights. By simply using proven mechanical parts and disused mine shafts, Green Gravity’s energy storage technology is low-cost, long life and environmentally compelling.

Storing energy in this way uses no processed chemicals and has no performance degradation. Moving weights vertically allows for high Round Trip Efficiency and using legacy mine shafts allows reuse of existing structures, contributing to the circular economy and lowering costs.

Green Gravity’s energy storage technology improves the economics of wind and solar power, leading to a faster and lower cost transition away from fossil fuels. Truly the next generation of ultra-green energy.

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why use green gravity to store energy

Using gravity to store energy

Green Gravity’s energy storage solution harnesses the fundamental principles of gravity and kinetic energy to store and dispatch energy by lifting and lowering heavy-weighted objects. Green Gravity’s innovative technology was inspired by pumped hydro like Snowy 2.0.

Like pumped hydro, we use the gravitational potential energy of a mass moving between two heights. However, rather than water between two dams, Green Gravity requires much less space by using very dense materials. To overcome friction, a vertical height available from a mine shaft is used rather than an incline on the side of a hill.

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How Green Gravity's energy storage works

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How it stacks up

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Applications for the Green Gravity energy storage technology

Our solution can provide services at all levels of the electricity system. We make renewable energy cheaper, make the grid more stable and reduce transmission costs, and can help mines and industrial plants reduce carbon emissions. We also have a role in supporting local community energy schemes through firming distributed energy resources.

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Power Generation

Managing Intermittent renewable generation

Energy Arbitrage

Peak Shaving

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Transmission

Ancillary Services

Transmission Constraints

Inertia Services

Responsive Flexibility Services

Voltage Support

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Distribution

Reactive Power

Voltage Support

Local Security

Distribution Losses

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End Users

End Users

Power Reliability

Energy Management

DER Firming

Mine Decarbonisation

Frequently Asked Questions

-- - What is gravitational storage?​

Gravitational storage refers to a process of converting electrical energy into gravitational potential energy through moving an object to a height. The energy is then released back to electrical energy at a later time by moving the object to a lower height, in the process turning an electric motor using the kinetic force of the descending object.

-- - Where can Green Gravity energy storage be deployed?

Green Gravity’s system can be deployed in many types of mine shafts. With nearly 100,000 shafts in Australia, this offers many potential deployment locations. Locations with the best economic case include those with shafts built after 1950, with electrical infrastructure sill accessible, and with greater depth. Shafts over 300 metres deep offer very attractive energy economics.

-- - What advantages does Green Gravity have over chemical batteries?

Green Gravity’ energy storage system is fundamentally more sustainable than chemical batteries. Some of the most important differentiating points include:

  • Our parts can be locally sourced. Lithium batteries are developed using water intensive processing, combined with rare minerals and are assembled in a long global supply chain.
  • We use basic steel cables, motors and recycled and inert materials. Chemical batteries are future landfill liabilities and are hazardous materials. 
  • Gravitational energy systems do not leak energy over time, don’t degrade and have very long asset lives. The energy system needs long-term stable clean capacity. Green Gravity can deliver equipment life 3 to 4 times longer than a chemical battery. 
  • Green Gravity re-uses existing infrastructure. We take minesites, which are sitting idle today, and convert them into energy storage systems capable of accelerating the uptake of renewable energy.
-- - Why is Green Gravity storage technology simpler that other solutions?

Green Gravity uses existing proven technology from the steel, mining and energy sectors to build the energy storage centre. We use cables, weighted blocks, mine winders, electric motors and off-the-shelf handling equipment to make our technology work. 

-- - How much weight does a Green Gravity energy storage centre move?

The weights moved depend on the depth and market configuration for an individual storage centre. For a large shaft, we move weights up to 40 metric tonnes, which give us the capability to store up to 10 kWh of energy per 100 metres of depth. For context, an average car weighs 1.3 tonnes, meaning we drop objects weighing the equivalent of 30 cars.

-- - How big are the mine shafts?
Mine shafts are generally very deep. Shallow shafts are 100-150 metres, while medium shafts are often 300 metres in depth. Modern shafts are concrete lined and can be more than 5 metres in diameter. Deep shafts can be over 1,000 metres in depth. For some context, the Empire State Building is 380 metres, the Eiffel Tower 300 metres, Sydney Tower 305 metres, Petronas Towers 450 metres, and way out there, the Burj Khalifa 828 metres. Of course, nature wins with the Grand Canyon at 1,800 metres deep.

Radically accelerating the world’s renewable transition

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