ABB has signed an agreement with UK-based gravity energy storage firm Gravitricity to explore how hoist expertise and technologies can accelerate the development and implementation of gravity energy storage systems in former mines.
Gravitricity has developed GraviStore, a gravity energy storage system that raises and lowers heavy weights in underground shafts. It is said to offer some of the best characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage. Future GraviStores will store more than 20 MWh, providing long-duration storage and rapid power delivery to network-constrained users and operators, distribution networks and major power users.
Unlike batteries, the Gravitricity system can operate for decades without any reduction in performance. Edinburgh company Gravitricity has already proven the system with a scale demonstrator in Leith, Scotland, and is exploring the potential to deploy its technology in decommissioned mines worldwide.
As a market leader for mine hoists with a large installed base of more than 1000 hoist solutions worldwide, ABB will collaborate by providing research and development, product development and engineering teams specialising in the design, engineering and operations of mine hoists and mechanical, electrical and control technologies for hoisting.
The Memorandum of Understanding agreement is an important step in ABB’s ambition to further develop its lifecycle service business by collaborating with companies providing adjacent and value-adding technologies.
Gravitricity will bring specialist expertise in grid compliance and control systems and the teams will work together on feasibility studies to understand the application of existing hoisting technology in gravity energy stores. ABB will also offer mining industry consultation and work to identify suitable sites and shafts for the deployment of GraviStore.
The decommissioning of mine shafts is a costly and time-consuming process for mining companies. By repurposing disused mine shafts for energy storage, mine shafts can fill a productive function for up to 50 years beyond their original lifetime.
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