Cooperation between China and the USA on gravity energy storage

Energy Vault has initiated the construction of an energy storage tower that harnesses gravity for its operations. This project, boasting a capacity of 25 MW and 100 MWh, is being established on a wind farm located close to Shanghai and is set to be integrated into the grid during the fourth quarter of this year. The investment is a collaborative effort involving Atlas Renewable and China Tianying.

This marks the world’s inaugural installation of this kind on a commercial scale. Prior to this, Energy Vault has introduced various initiatives, including a pilot project in Switzerland that achieved an impressive efficiency rate of 75%.

Gravity tower, like hydroelectric power plants?

The tower constructed by Energy Vault utilizes surplus electricity generated from renewable sources to elevate concrete blocks, each weighing 35 tons. When electricity demand is higher, the system releases the stored energy by lowering these blocks.

The design of the tower draws inspiration from the principles of pumped hydroelectric power plants. However, a key distinction is that the concrete blocks used in this system do not experience capacity degradation over time and can be produced at a lower cost, for instance, using materials like mine waste.

The tower’s operation is managed by computer systems and vision software that coordinate the loading and unloading cycles. These gravity storage facilities are expected to have a service life of approximately 30-35 years.

Cooperation between superpowers

Eric Fang, the CEO of Atlas Renewable, underscores that the success of this project was made possible through an exceptional collaboration between teams in the United States and China. This partnership serves as a significant symbol of the two nations’ unity in addressing climate change.

Energy Vault has also revealed plans for additional similar projects in China. Its subsidiary, China Tianying, recently announced an agreement with the Huailai County People’s Government to construct a 100 MWh gravity tower.