- The Pyhäsalmi Mine in Finland will host a gravity battery designed by Scottish firm Gravitricity, with the aim of being converted into a giant battery system for storing renewable energy.
- This innovative system will provide a reliable energy storage solution by using excess renewable energy and releasing energy when demand increases.
- In addition, this system has the potential to meet global electricity needs of repurposed underground mines and contribute to local communities by providing economic benefits.
The Pyhäsalmi Mine in Finland, once a zinc and copper mine, is ready to be converted into a massive battery system to store renewable energy. The mine’s disused shafts, which reach a depth of 1,400 meters, will host a gravity battery designed by Scottish company Gravitricity.
This innovative system utilizes excess renewable energy to lift a heavy load during periods of overproduction. When demand increases, the weight decreases, powering the turbine and releasing the stored energy. Gravitricity’s executive chairman, Martin Wright, says the project points to the potential for reliable, long-term energy storage, especially during periods of low demand.
A diagram of how a gravitational energy storage system would work. (IIASA)
A recent study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) suggests that repurposed underground mines like Pyhäsalmi could collectively store up to 70 TWh of energy, enough to meet global electricity needs. Moreover, mineral reuse not only eliminates energy storage challenges but also provides economic benefits to local communities by repurposing existing infrastructure and creating job opportunities.
IIASA analysts state that the mines have the basic infrastructure required for such work and are also connected to the electricity grid. Gravitricity’s vision extends beyond Pyhäsalmi and aims to incorporate its technologies into mining decommissioning activities globally. The project is consistent with the increasing reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources and requires efficient energy storage solutions.
Gravitricity highlights their commitment to developing underground technologies that safely store and transmit energy on demand at a lower lifecycle cost than existing alternatives. Beyond its energy storage facility potential, Pyhäsalmi’s site could also host other renewable energy initiatives, such as a solar farm.
Compiled by: Eliz Canyurt