Gravitricity seeks site for Indian pilot project

Using enormous weights moved up and down vertical shafts to store and generate energy, Gravitricity already has projects up and running in the UK and mainland Europe. The Edinburgh-based company says its system can last up to 50 years and deliver energy storage at around half the price of lithium-ion batteries, and without the need for precious metals.

India’s target of 500GW of renewables – much of it solar - by 2023 will require enormous amounts of energy storage to facilitate a reliable grid. Backed with £194,000 from Innovate UK, Gravitricity will now embark 12-month project to identify a shortlist of Indian sites for a demonstration scheme.

“India has very few fossil fuel resources and is committed to adopting renewables to fuel its economic growth,” said Chris Yendell, project development manager at Gravitricity. Solar power is extremely cheap in such a sunny country but brings with it a need for energy storage to meet peak morning and evening demand, both of which typically occur during the hours of darkness.