Building-Scale Gravity Energy Storage for Off-Grid Homes: A First-Principles Design and Cost Test
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Design and first-principles cost test of gravity energy storage (a rubble-concrete mass raised in a tower, building shaft, or hillside rail) for off-grid homes. SIMULATED, NOT MEASURED; nothing was built or hardware-tested. Delivering 5 kWh overnight from a 10 m tower requires 235.8 tonnes and costs about $1.96 per delivered kWh over 30 years, versus $0.11 for lithium iron phosphate and $0.46 for lead-acid. Round-trip efficiency is 60.6 percent and self-discharge is zero. The design beats lead-acid only when shared at village scale on a hillside (about 25 kWh per night or more at 50 m) and does not beat lithium at any scale computed.
Author: Aldred, William Alexander
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225751641
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