What is a
Gravity energy battery?

How Gravity energy batteries work

Gravity energy storage is a time-tested concept rooted in simple physics: the potential energy stored in an object when it is elevated against gravity. This gravitational energy, expressed by the equation U = mgh (where U is potential energy, m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height), is converted into electricity by lowering the object. When surplus energy from renewable sources like wind and solar is available, it can be used to lift a mass, storing energy for later use. When energy demand exceeds supply, the mass is lowered, and the gravitational energy is converted back into electricity.

Historically, this concept has been applied in various ways, from the simple mechanisms in pendulum clocks to large-scale pumped-storage hydroelectricity systems, which use water reservoirs at different elevations to store and release energy. However, the innovation of gravity batteries has expanded beyond these traditional methods, offering new possibilities for clean, reliable energy storage.

Renewell Energy’s Approach: Transforming Oil Wells into Gravity Energy Batteries

At Renewell Energy, we’ve taken the proven principles of gravity energy storage and applied them in a groundbreaking way to address two critical challenges: the need for scalable, long-duration energy storage and the urgent necessity to clean up idle oil wells.

Our Gravity Energy Battery uses the infrastructure of existing oil wells to store and generate electricity. Here’s how it works:

1. Energy Storage Through Gravity: When renewable energy sources generate excess electricity, we use it to lift a heavy weight within a repurposed oil well. This process stores energy as gravitational potential, ready to be deployed when demand rises.
2. Clean Energy Generation: When energy is needed, the weight is gradually lowered, turning a regenerative winch that generates electricity. This electricity can then be fed directly into the grid, providing clean, reliable power.
3. A Dual Environmental Benefit: What makes our Gravity Energy Battery unique is its dual impact. Not only does it provide critical energy storage, but it also helps clean up idle oil wells. Many of these wells are leaking methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By repurposing these wells for energy storage, we can seal them off, preventing further emissions and creating a system with a net-negative carbon footprint.

The Broader Impact: Scaling for a Renewable Future

The combination of gravity energy storage and oil well repurposing offers a powerful solution to several pressing problems. With over 1.8 million idle oil wells in North America alone, the potential for transformation is immense. By converting these wells into Gravity Energy Batteries, we aim to create over 132GWh of storage capacity—around 5% of the storage needed for a 100% renewable grid.

Partnering for Progress: Oil Wells That End Well

At Renewell Energy, we believe in turning challenges into opportunities. By partnering with oil and gas companies, we’re not just creating energy storage; we’re also providing a sustainable way to clean up idle oil wells. This approach aligns with our vision of a future where energy storage is both scalable and environmentally responsible—truly oil wells that end well.