Gravity battery is based on basic physical principles for energy storage and does not depend on the imported mineral material that promises to replace the lithium – ion battery.
The gravity battery tower of Energy Vault in the project cooperates with the Chinese government. Image: Energy Vault
Gravity battery, technology using one of the simplest forces in nature is gravity, which can store large energy. Currently being tested in many forms around the world, this method promises to provide clean, durable and flexible choice than Lithium-ion battery, according to Interesting Engineering.
Gravity battery works based on energy. Whenever lifting a heavy object, whether it is a large tile block or a volume of water, you put energy into that heavy object. Thanks to gravity, energy is stored until the object falls. At any time, you can let it fall in control, use a generator or turbine to change the downward momentum into electricity. Different from the chemical energy in the battery decreases after many repeat cycles, the energy does not decrease over time. As long as the mechanical department is still active, the storage energy can be released when needed.
The initial forms of energy storage based on gravity exist for more than a century in the form of hydroelectric systems pumping water into the hill when abundant energy, then release into the hill through the turbine when the demand for electricity peaks. This process is effective and highly reliability, but requires a separate terrain, including high -tank reservoirs and large basins that many areas do not have.
The most impressive example of the transition to gravity battery is like East, China, in the cooperation project between Energy Vault of Switzerland and the Chinese government. Higher than 120 m, EVX building is a massive mechanical tower used to lift giant tiles weighing up to 24 tons during surplus energy. When the grid needs more electricity, the tiles are lowered and their potential is transformed into electricity.
With a maximum power of 25 MW, EV has a round -trip effect of more than 80%. Operating life expectancy up to 35 years shows that this is a long -term solution. Each block is made from available compounds such as soil, sand or recycled waste. Building a tower depends on labor and local resources, making it lower costs than based on imported lithium or other rare soils. Many other EVX projects are being planned, from 100 meters to 660 meters, even a 2 GWH system proposed to be installed in the buttocks.
Challenges and limitations
Despite the potential of gravity battery, this is not a common solution. For energy storage on personal or family scale, physical experiments indicate the small gravity system is not effective. In one study, students of 2,000 kg concrete lifting technicians in a house and found that it only stores 12 AA battery.
Building works large enough to store a lot of energy at home will be very expensive and complex in terms of structure. At the grid size, the great limit of the gravity battery is a large initial cost. Although operating costs throughout the life cycle may be lower than the lithium-ion battery, persuading investors to participate in the project so it is not easy.
In addition, physical wear and tear in mechanical parts such as winches, cables, pulley or lifts may be worrying after decades of operation. Another obstacle is real estate. Although the gravity battery system does not require a lake on the mountain, it is necessary to structure high or deep wells. The urban area may not be convenient to build a high tower due to the vision or increase in real estate costs. The old or rural industrial park may be more suitable, but the feasibility of each project depends on the local regulations and the approval of the community.