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Mountain Gravity Energy Storage: A new solution for closing the gap between existing short- and long-term storage technologies

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  • Hunt, Julian David
  • Zakeri, Behnam
  • Falchetta, Giacomo
  • Nascimento, Andreas
  • Wada, Yoshihide
  • Riahi, Keywan

Abstract

The world is undergoing an energy transition with the inclusion of intermittent sources of energy in the grid. These variable renewable energy sources require energy storage solutions to be integrated smoothly over different time steps. In the near future, batteries can provide short-term storage solutions and pumped-hydro storage can provide long-term energy storage with large generation capacities. However, none of these technologies can provide long-term energy storage in grids with small demand. This paper proposes a new storage concept called Mountain Gravity Energy Storage (MGES) that could fill this gap in storage services. MGES systems move sand or gravel from a lower storage site to an upper elevation. The higher the height difference the greater the amount of stored energy in a given installed capacity, as this technology is constrained to the topography of the location. MGES cost varies from 50 to 100 $/MWh of stored energy and 1–2 M$/MW of installed capacity. MGES could be a feasible option for micro-grids, for example, small islands and isolated areas, and power systems where electricity costs are high, demand for energy storage is smaller than 20 MW with monthly or seasonal storage requirements.

Suggested Citation

  • Hunt, Julian David & Zakeri, Behnam & Falchetta, Giacomo & Nascimento, Andreas & Wada, Yoshihide & Riahi, Keywan, 2020. "Mountain Gravity Energy Storage: A new solution for closing the gap between existing short- and long-term storage technologies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:190:y:2020:i:c:s0360544219321140
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116419
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    Cited by:

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    3. Julian David Hunt & Behnam Zakeri & Jakub Jurasz & Wenxuan Tong & Paweł B. Dąbek & Roberto Brandão & Epari Ritesh Patro & Bojan Đurin & Walter Leal Filho & Yoshihide Wada & Bas van Ruijven & Keywan Ri, 2023. "Underground Gravity Energy Storage: A Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Magnus de Witt & Hlynur Stefánsson & Ágúst Valfells & Joan Nymand Larsen, 2021. "Availability and Feasibility of Renewable Resources for Electricity Generation in the Arctic: The Cases of Longyearbyen, Maniitsoq, and Kotzebue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Groppi, Daniele & Pfeifer, Antun & Garcia, Davide Astiaso & Krajačić, Goran & Duić, Neven, 2021. "A review on energy storage and demand side management solutions in smart energy islands," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    6. Julian David Hunt & Andreas Nascimento & Oldrich Joel Romero Guzman & Gilton Carlos de Andrade Furtado & Carla Schwengber ten Caten & Fernanda Munari Caputo Tomé & Walter Leal Filho & Bojan Đurin & Ma, 2022. "Sedimentary Basin Water and Energy Storage: A Low Environmental Impact Option for the Bananal Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Julian David Hunt & Behnam Zakeri & Andreas Nascimento & Diego Augusto de Jesus Pacheco & Epari Ritesh Patro & Bojan Đurin & Márcio Giannini Pereira & Walter Leal Filho & Yoshihide Wada, 2023. "Isothermal Deep Ocean Compressed Air Energy Storage: An Affordable Solution for Seasonal Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Barbosa, Paulo Sérgio Franco & Costalonga, Leandro, 2022. "Seawater air-conditioning and ammonia district cooling: A solution for warm coastal regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    9. Jurasz, Jakub & Piasecki, Adam & Hunt, Julian & Zheng, Wandong & Ma, Tao & Kies, Alexander, 2022. "Building integrated pumped-storage potential on a city scale: An analysis based on geographic information systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    10. Hunt, Julian David & Jurasz, Jakub & Zakeri, Behnam & Nascimento, Andreas & Cross, Samuel & Caten, Carla Schwengber ten & de Jesus Pacheco, Diego Augusto & Pongpairoj, Pharima & Filho, Walter Leal & T, 2022. "Electric Truck Hydropower, a flexible solution to hydropower in mountainous regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    11. Jarosław Kulpa & Paweł Kamiński & Kinga Stecuła & Dariusz Prostański & Piotr Matusiak & Daniel Kowol & Michał Kopacz & Piotr Olczak, 2021. "Technical and Economic Aspects of Electric Energy Storage in a Mine Shaft—Budryk Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, November.
    12. de Witt, Magnus & Stefánsson, Hlynur & Valfells, Ágúst & Larsen, Joan Nymand, 2021. "Energy resources and electricity generation in Arctic areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 144-156.
    13. Hunt, Julian David & Nascimento, Andreas & Zakeri, Behnam & Jurasz, Jakub & Dąbek, Paweł B. & Barbosa, Paulo Sergio Franco & Brandão, Roberto & de Castro, Nivalde José & Leal Filho, Walter & Riahi, Ke, 2022. "Lift Energy Storage Technology: A solution for decentralized urban energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).

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