Manufacturing work has started on key equipment for a project to showcase how old mineshafts could be used as batteries to store renewable energy. Gravitricity is spending about £1 million building a demonstration rig of its technology and hopes to begin testing in the spring. The company believes that huge weights on cables attached to winches on the surface can help to balance out the intermittent nature of wind farms. On days when excess electricity is being generated, the weight is lifted to the top of a shaft. At times when demand is outstripping supply, the weight can be quickly lowered, with the movement producing power. The company believes that eventualy the cost of its proposition will be lower than the large-scale lithium ion battery deployment that is being considered by many renewable energy producers. The Edinburgh-based company said that work on the demonstration facility, which will be installed in the Leith area of the Scottish capital, is progressing well.
Times 31st Aug 2020 read more »