[RE-wrenches] gravity storage of excess PV generation

[Hilton Dier]

A one metric ton weight on a 30 meter tall tower has a potential energy of 81 watt hours. I’d stick with batteries. 

The only places gravity storage works are where you have “free” height and huge amounts of free weight. That is, an existing lake at a good elevation for pumped storage.

But on that note, it’s cheaper to buy and opportunistically fill a 1,000 gallon plastic storage tank than to buy the batteries needed to fill that storage tank on demand. Store the final product if you can. 

Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Missisquoi River Hydro LLC