Kaif Shaikh of Interesting Engineering reports that gravity batteries use the force of gravity to store and release energy, offering a cleaner, durable, and geopolitically flexible alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Projects like Energy Vault’s EVx in China and Gravitricity’s mine-shaft designs show promise for large-scale energy storage. While challenges like high initial costs exist, gravity batteries could help balance renewable energy with growing electricity demands, supporting a more sustainable energy future. Shaikh writes:
As the global transition toward renewable energy accelerates, storing electricity generated by intermittent sources, such as solar and wind, becomes more urgent. Power production often plunges when the sun sets or the wind dies down. At the same time, demand can surge unexpectedly, placing strain on electric grids that are already juggling the stresses of an electrified future.
Enter gravity batteries, a technology that uses one of the simplest forces in nature—gravity—to store large amounts of energy. This approach, now being trialed in various forms worldwide, promises to offer a cleaner, more durable, and geopolitically flexible alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Here’s what you need to know about the technology, its viability, and some pioneering projects seeking to prove it on a grand scale. […]
The batteries degrade over time, losing capacity, and they pose challenges in recycling. Their costs fluctuate with geopolitics and supply chain dependencies—China currently controls an estimated 72% of the lithium-ion market. These factors push many governments and companies to explore alternatives that can operate without relying heavily on mined materials. […]
The most striking example of this shift to gravity storage is Rudong, China, where a partnership between Energy Vault (a Swiss company) and the Chinese government has created the EVx system.
Standing over 120 meters high, the EVx building is a massive mechanical tower for lifting giant blocks weighing 24 tons during surplus energy. When the grid demands more power, the blocks are lowered, and their potential energy is converted back into electricity. […]
Gravity batteries shine for large, long-term capacity needs in locations suited to tall structures or deep shafts. Thanks to projects like Energy Vault’s EVx in China or Gravitricity’s mine-shaft designs, the concept has moved beyond the drawing board, demonstrating real potential.
While the technology is still maturing, gravity batteries may stand out for their durability, scalability, and minimal reliance on scarce materials. Over time, if they prove economically viable and robust, these systems could become mainstays for utilities looking to balance renewable energy flows. For the planet, that means fewer greenhouse emissions, reduced reliance on finite resources, and a step closer to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Read more here.
