Energy Vault Holdings and renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) have unveiled plans to build colossal skyscrapers, up to a kilometer high, that would harness the force of gravity to produce and store energy. renewable energy on an unprecedented scale.
Engineers from Energy Vault demonstrated innovative gravity energy storage (GESS) systems. The principle is disconcertingly simple: it involves building a hollow superstructure inside which a captive weight is installed. Excess energy from renewable sources or neighboring grids is then used to lift the weight to the top of the tower. When energy is needed, the weight is released, allowing its descent to power generators and create a continuous cycle of energy production and storage.
The potential benefits of this approach are staggering. Energy Vault claims its suite of G-VAULT power generation schemes could enable these superstructures to produce and store multiple gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity while achieving a remarkable “return on carbon investment” in just three or four years. The company also designed an alternative system, EVc, which replaces weight with a water pump to operate the tower’s turbines, drawing inspiration from traditional pumped-storage hydroelectric plants.
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Energy Vault plans to use environmentally friendly materials and incorporate waste materials for beneficial reuse, which will further reduce the environmental impact of these towering energy generators.
While the concept may seem audacious, it is supported by a fantastic collaboration between Energy Vault and SOM, the architectural firm responsible for iconic structures such as the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai.
However, as with any innovative project, there are challenges to overcome. Whether it be logistical considerations such as building weight, overall efficiency and daily maintenance, or the practical concerns of integrating such a large-scale system into a functional skyscraper, the The road ahead is not without obstacles.
Yet, in the face of the global climate crisis, it is imperative to have bold ideas and innovative solutions. If successful, These gravity-powered skyscrapers could redefine how we produce and store energytransforming towering structures from simple architectural marvels into enormous energy factories.
