Could abandoned underground mines be repurposed to store energy?

Abandoned underground mines could be repurposed to store vast amounts of energy using gravity batteries, according to an international team of researchers.

Could abandoned mines be a 'gravity battery'?

According to scientists at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), abandoned mines could provide a solution. They claim that turning decommissioned mines into vast “gravity batteries” could provide up to 70 terawatts of energy storage. This is enough to match the entire world’s daily electricity consumption.

What are the advantages of using abandoned mines?

Using abandoned mines for gravity batteries provides several benefits. It preserves jobs, hides unsightly infrastructure underground, and leverages existing connections to the grid. Additionally, these mines can be on standby to provide much needed energy for months or even years.

How many abandoned mines are estimated to be in the U.S.?

Earlier this month, scientists revealed a gravity battery that takes advantage of vestiges of dirty energy’s past by using millions of abandoned mines worldwide (with an estimated 550,000 of them being in the U.S. alone) to store energy.

Should old Mines be repurposed for gravity batteries?

When the energy is needed during periods of low production, the weight is released and used to power a turbine as it falls. The repurposing of old mines to house gravity batteries would also have a broader economic benefit for the local community, according to the study’s authors. “When a mine closes, it lays of thousands off workers.

Could abandoned coal mines be transformed into next-gen batteries?

According to the BBC, some companies are already investigating ways to transform abandoned coal mines into next-gen batteries. However, others find the geographic limitations of mine-based gravity batteries could limit the adoption of the technology worldwide.