Storing Energy with Gravity

Here’s another variation on the theme of storing off-peak energy by pushing a mass uphill, and then releasing the mass when energy is needed.  Think of it as pumped hydro without the hydro.

This has an advantage over competitive ideas in that no natural change of elevation is required; you simply dig a deep hole in the ground and seal the walls so it doesn’t cave in.

The problem, as I’ve covered extensively over the years, is that battery technology is improving steadily, where this concept is based on the discoveries of Newton (~1660) and Faraday (~1830) and cannot possibly become more efficient or energy dense over time.