Bluescope backs gravity storage start-up with funds and lab at Port Kembla

BlueScope Steel has thrown its weight behind Australian long duration energy storage hopeful, Green Gravity, chipping in funds and prime real estate at its Port Kembla hub in New South Wales to build a “world first” research and development facility.

Green Gravity, headed up by former BHP executive Mark Swinnerton, is developing an energy storage system that, similar to pumped hydro, uses gravity to generate power – but instead of water, uses up to 30-tonnes of steel coil lowered into vertical mine shafts.

The idea is that by re-using mining assets, and by using gravity as the fuel, Green Gravity’s energy storage system can cut costs and avoid the use of the water, land, and chemicals relied on by other long duration energy storage technologies.

The technology is as-yet untested at scale, but Green Gravity has been working with the University of Wollongong and Soto Engineering to develop the concept and last year signed an MoU with Yancoal Australia to run a pre-feasibility study.

Now, the company is looking to further prove up its proprietary gravitational energy storage system at a purpose-built lab at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks, with construction on the facility said to be starting this month.

Green Gravity says the lab will be designed to obtain high resolution performance data and will be co-commissioned with a “digital twin,” developed in partnership with AI specialists to help optimise the design of the technology and establish a “continuous learning system.”

Gravity storage has emerged as an interesting solution to long duration storage, although many are skeptical. Another gravity storage specialist, the Swiss-based Energy vault, is building its first plant in China, and has struck MoUs with Australian mining companies and Ark Energy. But the technology is not yet proven.

Swinnerton, the founder and CEO of Green Gravity, says the support from BlueScope demonstrates the potential for large and small enterprises to work toegther on the development of new clean energy technologies.

“The capital investment committed to the Gravity Lab will enable some of the most advanced gravitational energy storage research in the world,” Swinnerton said on Tuesday.

“The purpose-built facility, to be located at the Port Kembla Steelworks, will be capable of moving 16 separate weighted objects in a sequence to test the capabilities of our technology.”

“The important research that will be undertaken at the Gravity Lab will enable power generation capacity and efficiency to be validated in addition to data that will support Green Gravity technology to connect to the power grid at large-scale.”

Michael Reay, head of corporate affairs at BlueScope Australia says the steel giant has identified “enormous” synergies with Green Gravity.

“We recognise that we are going to need an enormous amount green renewable energy in the transition and are proud to be supporting Green Gravity in helping to bring their innovative solution to life,” Reay said on Tuesday.

“As we fast approach our 100-year anniversary of steelmaking here at Port Kembla, we are busy planning for the next 100 years and are currently developing a Masterplan for rejuvenating 200 Hectares of surplus land adjacent to the steelworks.

“We are very excited that Green Gravity chose to establish its Gravity Lab here on our site by repurposing one of our industrial-size buildings.

“It’s a great fit and a tangible example of what we are trying to create, a modern hi-tech R&D precinct that builds upon our strengths in advanced manufacturing.”