Comments on: “Gravity Power” Energy Storage Plans in Germany

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:12:00 +0000

An expert feasibility study and cost analysis by Babendererde Engineers GmbH of Gemany http://www.babeng.com has been done and the results have been confirmed by the experts of Hochtief Solutions AG (www.hochtief.com) one the largest construction company worldwide.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:10:00 +0000

Lots of smaller 100 meter shafts would be much to expensive. The larger the system the lower the costs per KW storage capacity. Gravity Power Modules start to be really competitive (in comparision with conventional hps) for storage capacities of 125MW+.There are standard inflatable standstill seals (with no leakage) installed and working as long as the system is not used.

By: sunlover

sunlover — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 09:46:00 +0000

This would be nice but…500 meters of rock means about 1500 bar of pressure to keep that piston up by any fluid.

That means a seal with a LOT of friction. I would rather see some data on that before making any assumptions about the viability.

By: Wayne Williamson

Wayne Williamson — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 21:58:00 +0000

Only made it thru the presentation and first or second comment/question. Didn’t like the reply to the scaling being exponential…its linear.
Its also unclear as to what the “weight” is, I’m guessing lead.
That being said, I think this has some great potential. I think smaller 100 meter shafts, and lots of them is the way to go…just my two cents…
Another thought is what is the standby time, ie what is the leakage around the weight.

By: GlennM

GlennM — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 05:57:00 +0000

Sounds like the Physics is sound. The execution should be within the real of current engineering, mining and drilling practice. I hope they get the funds to do a proof of concept trial. I remember a few years ago people saying large wind turbines would never be practical either !

Good luck to them

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 23:51:00 +0000

Look at like nothing has happened since this 2011 talk, or at least there is no news on the web site. http://www.gravitypower.net/

By: bussdriver78

bussdriver78 — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 22:44:00 +0000

Patent? Kinetics 101, not even Physics – this is taught conceptually… I think I had an algebra problem in school that was similar. Challenges involving large scale versions that could be patented.

By: Ivor O'Connor

Ivor O'Connor — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:32:00 +0000

Very nice article “guest contributor”.

The link to the actual thread is http://bravenewclimate.com/2010/04/05/pumped-hydro-system-cost/

In the long term I don’t see much need for energy storage. Heindl’s projections I agree with as far as he goes with them. However project another few years past where he ends and we will be supplying more than 100% of our needs 24x7x365xever. At that point we will be taking the excess energy and converting it to methane at perhaps that 75% loss Heindl mentions. However even at a 75% loss the methane supplied will be cheaper than biogas or the petroleum and the transport industry will gladly buy it. So wind and energy will continue to grow way beyond the electrical requirements needed. Thereby avoiding the need for elaborate storage systems.

However these storage systems will be needed between now and then. It will be interesting to see how they scale this down to a community level or even a household level.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:31:00 +0000

it is no problem to transmit power 1000 km. Grids are continent wide.

By: Omega Centauri

Omega Centauri — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:26:00 +0000

I suspect there are formibible geotechnical challenges involved. Living rock isn’t some inert dimensionally stable weight, but contains significant stresses and weaknesses. Change the pressure (which you are doing by excavating material) and you are bound to release some of these stresses. Keeping your weight and the hole so they don’t grind against each other may not be a piece of cake. I hope they have some expert mining engineers, and not just a bunch of dreamers on board.

I wouldn’t risk a wind turbine or solar panels by putting them on top of this.

By: bink

bink — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:10:00 +0000

this has limited application due to geological site restrictions. these hole are massive and in places like florida would never work due to its porous aquifer.
so what is the point if you now have to transmit that energy from far away.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 12:35:00 +0000

it is sad that 99 % of all the “good ideas” will never find their place on market.