Green Gravity, CEVJ to study gravity storage for mine shafts in Romania

Australian start-up Green Gravity and Romania’s Complexul Energetic Valea Jiului SA (CEVJ) will study the use of Green Gravity’s gravitational energy storage technology in 17 mine shafts on the four mining operations in Romania’s Valea Jiului region, the parties said on Friday.

The companies have signed a cooperation framework agreement, under which they will explore the technical, economic and environmental aspects of turning CEVJ's existing coal mines into energy storage facilities, as well as the potential benefits and challenges of integrating the energy storage capacity with the power grid and renewable energy sources.

According to Green Gravity’s chief executive Mark Swinnerton, the project “has the potential to transform Romania's coal sector into a renewable energy storage hub, creating jobs, growth and innovation.”

“Successfully implementing gravitational energy storage in the Valea Jiului will provide a leading example for successful transition of a coal mining region,” Swinnerton added.

Green Gravity’s technology seeks to provide economic long-duration storage of renewable energy, keeping costs low by re-using mining assets and requiring no water, land and chemicals.

CEVJ managing director Eusebiu Durbaca said the project is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its energy portfolio and explore new opportunities to create value from its coal assets.

The partnership was welcomed by Romania’s energy minister Sebastian-Ioan Burduja.

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