Gravity Mine - Low cost energy storage for Chile’s mining cluster

Gravitricity是一家在清洁技术领域拥有丰富知识产权的英国中小企业，拥有4项专利和另外3项与其创新的能源存储技术相关的专利申请。该项目支持其向智利扩张的初始阶段，相信那里的条件适合快速增长的客户需求和低成本的实施。该项目是一个为期3个月的可行性研究，由Gravitricity作为唯一合作伙伴与单一分包商(富尔集团)共同领导。双方将与专门为智利、秘鲁和厄瓜多尔采矿业带来新技术的FPower Group建立研究和创新关系。Gravitricity的技术通过在垂直地下竖井中升降重物来储存能量。新型电动绞车驱动模块正在开发中。每台机组可配置为产生1至20兆瓦的峰值功率，输出持续时间为15分钟至8小时。采矿业占智利GDP的40%以上，该项目将确定废弃矿井的可用性和充裕程度。大量矿井的确定将为该地区未来的重力技术实施提供显著的成本优势。该项目将与智利政府部门和机构、采矿协会和可再生能源协会合作，并与已知参与竖井建造和维护的矿山的最终用户进行访谈。这将加快可再生能源市场的商业化进程，预计到2030年可再生能源产量将增加一倍以上。这项研究的目标是加快Gravitricity在该地区的商业化进程。国际化是该公司整体增长战略的关键一环，智利已被确定为该公司首次进军美洲拥有良好的条件。矿场是能源消耗大户，许多矿业公司正在向可再生能源转型，智利的一些矿场甚至100%使用可再生能源。能源储存是这一转变的关键推动因素，重力法在修复和再利用采矿部门废弃的资产(即。矿井)，使其重新投入生产服务。

Gravitricity is an IP rich UK SME in the cleantech sector with 4 patents and 3 further patent applications relating to its innovative energy storage technology. This project supports the initial phase of its expansion to Chile, where it is believed conditions are suitable for high and fast growing customer demand and low cost implementation.The project is a 3 month feasibility study led by Gravitricity as sole partner with a single subcontractor (Fower Group). A research and innovation relationship will be established with the Fower Group, specialist in bringing new technology to the mining sector in Chile, Peru and Ecuador.Gravitricity's technology stores energy by raising and lowering weights in a vertical underground shaft. Novel electrically driven winch-drive modules are being developed. Each unit can be configured to produce between 1 and 20MW peak power, with output duration from 15 minutes to eight hours.Mining represents over 40% of Chilean GDP and this project will identify the availability and abundance of disused mine shafts. The identification of an abundance of mine shafts would give a significant cost advantage to future Gravitricity technical implementations in the region. The project will engage with Chilean government departments and agencies, Mining and Renewable Energy Associations as well as interviewing end-users at mines known to have involvement with the creation and maintenance of shafts. This will speed up commercialisation in a market which expects to more than double its renewable energy output by 2030\.The objective of the study is to fast-track Gravitricity's commercialisation in the region. Internationalisation is a key plank of the company's overall growth strategy, and Chile has been identified as having good conditions for the company's first foray into the Americas. Mines are large energy users and many mining companies are transitioning to renewable power with some Chilean mines going as far as 100% renewables. Energy storage is a key enabler of this transition and gravitricity is uniquely placed to rehabilitate and reuse the disused assets of the mining sector (ie. mine shafts) to put them back into productive service.