Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr
It's not so clear how lowering the blocks with a crane could effectively provide electric power. Would it require a special crane with some feature similar to the regenerative braking featured on hybrid cars?
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That is exactly how it works. When the grid has surplus electricity you use it to run the electric motors on the crane and stack blocks. When the grid needs electricity you unstack blocks, gravity turns the electric motor which acts as a generator and produces electricity. Just like an electric motor in an EV or hybrid.
Energy Vault's key innovation is stacking lots of smaller blocks with an autonomous crane. By using small weights the lifting structure can be built with inexpensive off-the-shelf construction crane components.