Work

The power of sand: Can solid gravity close the energy storage gap?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Transition to low-carbon energy systems primarily based on variable renewable energy, such as wind and solar, requires flexibility options, including energy storage. While batteries have dominated the market for short-term electricity storage, existing alternatives for long-duration energy storage are either site-specific, such as pumped hydropower storage (PHS), or lack the required supply infrastructure, such as green hydrogen and other synthetic fuels. We investigate the world's potential and project-specific cost of four emerging gravity energy storage technologies that are carbon-free and can be integrated into existing infrastructure: mountain gravity energy storage, electric truck gravity energy storage, underground energy storage, and lift energy storage technology. These electricity storage technologies can reach a levelized cost of (seasonal) energy storage as low as 94 USD MWh −1 and can store up to nearly 231 TWh of electricity globally (cf., the world's PHS total installed capacity is estimated to be 8.5–9 TWh today). Integrated gravity can play a role as long-duration energy storage in decarbonizing the energy sector and is a complementary solution to short-duration energy storage such as battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Source: Journal of Energy Storage

DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2025.116839

Authors: Julian David Hunt, Behnam Zakeri, Jakub Jurasz, Yoshihide Wada, Volker Krey, Keywan Riahi

Institutions: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Vienna University of Economics and Business, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Power Systems and Renewable Energy

Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,560