Australian start up trials gravity powered renewable energy from old mines

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Renewable energy and coal mines don't usually go together. But a new project in the Illawarra is trying to change that. An Australian start-up is trialing a form of energy generation and storage that's like hydropower but without water. It's signed a deal with the owners of a de-commissioned colliery to test and harness the power of gravity.

Transcript

00:00Towering above the bushy landscape, this derelict mine shaft is about to get a new lease on life.

00:08We're going to see the world's first ever mine site demonstrations of a gravitational energy storage system.

00:15The process works by raising and lowering heavy weights up and down the shaft.

00:20During daytime hours, excess solar and wind power is used to pull the weights up.

00:25Then during peak periods, the weights are dropped down, spinning a turbine that creates electricity.

00:31The trials we've run in Port Kembla at the Gravity Lab have shown the technology works.

00:36We now want to scale it up. We want to make sure that it works in the mining environment.

00:40Now the owner of the old Russellvale colliery is giving them that chance.

00:45We were not sure whether we'll be able to sell the mine or we're going to close or nothing was decided yet.

00:50So when Mark came to me and shared the idea, I was excited.

00:54The $10 million operation is being funded by tech company Green Gravity after trialling a 12 metre prototype at Australia's largest steel maker.

01:04It will replicate the technology at a depth of 400 metres on a site that's close to a substation.

01:11At a commercial level, it could provide enough electricity for 10,000 homes.

01:17It's going to make us ready to deploy commercial systems, hopefully as soon as calendar 2027.

01:22This deal comes just five months after the state government led an inquiry into the use of post mining land.

01:29It suggested relaxing rules to support initiatives like renewable energy projects.

01:35What makes it a world first is how it repurposes existing infrastructure.

01:41They're reusing sunk capital costs in the mine shaft and the electricity grid connection.

01:47And that's what makes it such an amazing and brilliant piece of technology.

01:51A real world test for a cleaner future.

01:54A real world test for a cleaner future.

02:04A real world test for a cleaner future.

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