China’s 40-Story Gravity Tower Stores Renewable Energy Without Lithium
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📰 The quick summary: China built a 40-story gravity battery tower that lifts 24-ton blocks to store renewable energy, providing a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries with 80% efficiency and a 35-year lifespan.
📈 One key stat: The EVx™ gravity battery system has a capacity of 100 MWh with 80% efficiency and can last 35 years, making it a durable and long-term solution for renewable energy storage.
💬 One key quote: “The energy from the fall turns back into electricity.”
1️⃣ The big picture: A new approach to energy storage has emerged in China with the construction of a 40-story gravity battery tower. This innovative system uses robotic cranes to lift massive 24-ton blocks when excess renewable energy is available, then releases them to generate electricity when needed. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that require rare earth metals and create pollution during extraction, gravity batteries rely on simple physics – using height and weight to store and release energy. The 100 MWh capacity system in Rudong represents a significant advancement in clean energy storage technology.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This gravity-based energy storage solution eliminates dependence on scarce resources like lithium and reduces the environmental impact associated with mining rare earth metals. With 80% efficiency and a 35-year lifespan, the system offers superior longevity compared to chemical batteries that degrade over time. The technology can be implemented without geographical constraints that limit traditional pumped hydro storage, which requires mountains and water bodies. By providing a way to store intermittent renewable energy from wind and solar sources, gravity batteries help solve one of clean energy’s biggest challenges – reliable availability regardless of weather conditions.
3️⃣ What’s next: Other companies like Scottish Gravitricity are developing similar concepts, adapting the technology to work in abandoned mines and existing vertical shafts. Engineers need to improve efficiency ratings while reducing construction costs to make gravity batteries more competitive at scale. These systems must eventually be integrated into diverse energy grids worldwide to demonstrate their reliability in various conditions.
Read the full story here: Ecoticias – 40-story gravity battery ascends building shafts — High‑rise elevators store grid energy
