Could Gravity Batteries Bring Renewable Energy Storage to Your Home?

Sustainable energy sources like wind and solar face the challenge of storing excess energy for later use. Large utilities often use mechanical storage methods, such as lifting weights or pumping water uphill, to store energy and generate electricity when needed. While effective on a large scale, these “gravity batteries” haven’t been adapted for single homes. A team of Purdue University undergraduates studied whether a compact gravity battery could be designed for residential use.

“A gravity battery stores energy just like a AA battery would, except it’s more environmentally friendly,” said Caden Jarausch  , a senior in mechanical engineering, and lead author of the study. “Instead of using chemicals like lithium, it uses the potential energy of a heavy weight to turn gravity into electricity.”