DIGITAL LIFE

Company will turn huge skyscrapers into energy storage systems

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the engineering and architecture firm responsible for the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and Energy Vault, an energy storage company, have teamed up to transform huge skyscrapers into something even bigger: energy storage systems. gravitational energy.

Skyscrapers may soon be transformed into something even bigger: gravitational energy storage systems;

The project proposes two types of systems: one using a weight that would be lifted to the top of the skyscraper and, when released, would descend to the base of the building, activating a generator with the force of gravity;

The second would rely, instead of a weight, on water – similar to the hydroelectric storage system;

The extra weight, system maintenance and the space occupied by the mechanism are some of the problems in carrying out the project;

The proposal was created by the companies Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and Energy Vault.

The method is very similar to what we see in hydroelectric storage, in which water is released from a high point – such as a mountain – and, as it flows downwards, it rotates turbines and generates electricity. Then the water is pumped to the top again, and the process can be carried out again.

The companies present two ideas for the project. The first uses excess energy to lift a weight to the top of a 1 km high skyscraper. When released, the weight would descend to the base of the building, activating a generator thanks to the force of gravity. In the second idea, instead of a weight, water would be pumped to the top of the skyscraper. In both proposals, it is possible to use both energy from renewable sources and from a standard electrical grid.

Companies face some practical challenges in carrying out the plan, such as the ability of skyscrapers to support the extra weight, the maintenance of systems and the space needed to build the mechanisms – which could make it economically unviable.

“The structures will have the capacity to achieve several gigawatt-hours (GWh) of gravitational energy storage to power not only the building itself, but also the energy needs of adjacent buildings. The project will, for the first time in the history of construction and operation of buildings, allow a carbon return in accelerated time frames of 3 to 4 years”, explains a press release.

mundophone