Deep in the depths of Finland, an innovative technology is about to transform the energy landscape, the “Gravity Battery”. The Pyhäsalmi mine, where its main attraction is Europe’s deepest zinc and copper mining, located some 450 km north of Helsinki, will become the site of a pioneering project: Gravitricity’s subway energy storage.
Innovative energy from the depths of Finland
Following the closure of the mining operations, the local community looked to the future to reuse the existing infrastructure. This mine extends 1,444 meters below the surface, offering an ideal space for Gravitricity’s GraviStore project, which will be located in an auxiliary shaft 530 meters deep.
This innovative project will harness gravitational potential energy to store energy efficiently and safely. The system, a giant “gravity battery” made up of heavy counterweights and a pulley system, allows energy to be stored during periods of low demand and released when the grid requires it.
Taking advantage of the potential “gravity battery”.
It is estimated to have the capacity to store up to 18 MWh of energy, the equivalent of the consumption of more than 2,000 Finnish households. A gravity battery as an energy proposal represents for the locals, a breakthrough in energy storage and in turn, trade opportunities as industrialization.
Gravitricity CEO Martin Wright stresses that this project will not only validate the effectiveness of their technology on a large scale, but will also lay the groundwork for future commercial ventures. It also highlights the positive impact on the generation of jobs with a low carbon footprint in a region affected by the decline of conventional mining.
Strategic challenges and opportunities for Pyhäsalmi
The cessation of mining operations at Pyhäsalmi in August 2022 marked the closure of the main source of employment in the area, resulting in the loss of more than 600 direct and indirect jobs. However, the mine’s conversion to innovative projects, including GraviStore, prospective solar farms, technology startups and a subway 5G network, bode well for Pyhäjärvi’s economic future.
Henrik Kiviniemi, CEO of Callio Pyhäjärvi, emphasizes the unique opportunity implied by the transformation of the energy landscape and Pyhäsalmi’s strategic location to attract energy-intensive industry. The valuable resources, both in infrastructure and local knowledge, that remain after mine closure are crucial assets for innovative companies such as Gravitricity.
Future perspectives
Ultimately, the transformation of the zinc and copper mine into a gravity battery could be just the beginning of a new era in the mining industry, where disused infrastructure becomes a source of innovation and sustainability. If Gravitricity succeeds in realizing its vision, it could set a precedent for similar future projects throughout Europe and beyond.
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Source and photo: ecoinventos.com
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