Green Gravity Begins Studies for 2GWh Gravitational Energy Storage Project in Queensland
Australian startup Green Gravity has initiated studies to develop a 2GWh gravitational energy storage project in Northwest Queensland. Located in Mount Isa in the Gulf Country region, the project will be developed in partnership with Mount Isa City Council and global mining company Glencore, with a focus on regional studies, mine site concept engineering, and local community engagement.
Green Gravity’s technology aims to repurpose legacy mineshafts as bases for its gravity-based energy storage solutions. Leveraging Australia's extensive mining operations, the technology holds the potential to deliver substantial energy storage capacity. Earlier this month, the company secured AU$9 million (US$6.02 million) in Series A funding to complete product development, with investors including HMC Capital, BlueScopeX, Pacific Channel, and Sumisho Coal Australia Holdings.
The mineshafts at Mount Isa, owned by Glencore and used for copper mining, provide an opportunity for conversion into energy storage facilities. Maryann Wipaki, Glencore's general manager of health, safety, environment, and community, noted that the project offers a potential path for repurposing mine infrastructure once the Mount Isa Copper Mine reaches closure, contributing to the community's resilience.
Mount Isa Mayor Peta MacRae also praised the project, emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits it could bring to the local community. Following the initial studies, the project partners will share insights from energy market analyses for Northwest Queensland, create a model of the region's energy dynamics, and identify funding needs for further studies on power quality and load profiles.
Green Gravity is also working with other mining companies in Australia to explore the use of its technology. In December 2023, Green Gravity signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Wollongong Resources to evaluate gravity-based energy storage at eight potential sites across the country, including the Illawarra region in New South Wales, which is set to become a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
Green Gravity’s gravitational energy storage technology converts electrical energy into gravitational potential energy by moving heavy weights to a height. In this application, weights of up to 40 metric tonnes can store up to 10kWh of energy per 100 metres of depth. The company highlights advantages over chemical batteries, including lower degradation and a longer lifespan, which can be three to four times that of traditional batteries.
