Scottish energy storage outfit Gravitricity is exploring the potential to transform a former Czech coal mine into an energy storage plant with a capacity of up to 8MW.
Gravitricity is exploring a shortlist of sites Europe-wide, which include a recent mission to the Staric mine in the Moravian Silesian region of Czechia, where six deep mining sites were formally transitioned into a post mining phase earlier this year.
The Staric mine lies within a large coal field which extends across the border into Poland.
The mine shaft extends to a depth of over one km underground.
In the visit to the mine, Gravitricity met state-run mine owner DIAMO, along with the regional government and local stakeholders including VSB Technical University of Ostrava.
A final site decision is planned for early next year.
If successful, the project could be a “pathfinder” for other such deployments of the company’s technology in Europe, Gravitricity said.
Gravitricity specialises in gravity energy storage, which stores and discharges energy by lifting and lowering massive weights in a shaft.
The storage outfit has already demonstrated a scale version of its technology in Edinburgh, built in partnership with Dutch winch specialist Huisman.
The next step is to commence a full-scale 4-8MW prototype scheme in a disused mine next year.
This single weight system could deliver up to two megawatt hours (MWh) of energy storage, while future multi-weight systems could have capacity of 25MWh or more.
Gravitricity project development manager Chris Yendell said: “By utilising former coal mines as massive energy stores, we can find new uses for existing infrastructure and help mitigate the social impact on mining communities.
“We received a very warm welcome in Czechia and have received a formal letter of support from the region’s governor.”