Principal Solar touting new energy storage system

Principal Solar touting new energy storage systemCurrent utility storage systems have at least one massive problem: They cause undeniable environmental impact—requiring land permits, large-scale construction and flooding of two sites.

Gravity Power LLC., has a solution to the problem, and Tom Mason, CEO, will present his new storage system at an upcoming webinar, hosted by Principal Solar, on Oct. 11, which believes the storage system could work in tandem with utility-scale solar power. 

Mason said that Gravity Power Modules, the new utility storage system, operates a lot like current pumped storage hydropower, but brings new concepts to the design to vastly improve the concept.

“The concept that’s been developed for Gravity Power is something that’s simple and uses components that have been used before in other application put together in a unique new way,” said Mason. “This allows the system to store energy at efficiencies and costs that have never before been achieved.”

According to Principal Solar, “The Gravity Power Module (GPM) hydraulically lifts a massive piston inside a deep vertical shaft to store energy, and releases the piston on demand to force water through a hydro turbine.”

Mason said the design affords the opportunity to construct the storage facilities quicker—in two to three years as opposed to ten to fifteen years—and uses less land.

“You see, the whole system is going straight down from a usage standpoint, so it doesn’t take a lot of room at the surface—it’s an environmentally benign system,” said Mason.

Aside from decreasing environmental impact, how Gravity Power Modules work allows consumers to earn more from storing their energy.

“Gravity Power gives you the ability to store the power when it’s available and cheap and deliver it when it’s expensive, and that gives you pump storage availability and also provides it at a price of $1,000 a kilowatt, including the construction,” said Mason.

Other advantages, according to Gravity Power, include lower costs, no continued water use, no emissions, fast response, flexible siting, fast permitting and construction, and no visible stack or noise.

The webinar on Oct. 11 begins at 12 noon, EST, and is hosted at http://definitivesolar.webvent.tv/webinar/112.

The event is sponsored by Principal Solar. More information at www. principalsolar.com.

Image courtesy of Gravity Power.