As the world generates more electricity from intermittent renewable energy sources, there is a growing need for technologies, which can capture and store energy during periods of low demand and release it rapidly when required. Long-life, below-ground technologies can store energy safely and deliver it on demand at a lower lifetime cost than current alternatives. Gravity and hydrogen storage technologies each offer unique attributes, ideally suited to the fast-evolving energy markets of tomorrow.

Gravitricity underground gravity storage technology uses the power of gravity and their hydrogen storage technology uses the geology of the earth to safely store large volumes of green hydrogen. Our next step is developing a novel storage technology, which will involve a 2.5m diameter by 120m deep shaft being constructed. Such purpose-built shafts can be built wherever required to offer long-term storage close to the point of demand and deliver a grid-scale energy storage system.

This presentation will touch on this emerging technology, its applicability to accelerating the transition to Net Zero, the geotechnical problems that have been encountered so far and the ones anticipated to be encountered along the journey.

Ethan Jones has a background in geotechnical engineering, with broad experience in geotechnical design and construction. He has previously worked with Cementation Skanska on the A1 Birtley to Coalhouse project on Old Coal Workings. He has also worked with pile-reuse and deep foundation design. Ethan has had a focus on renewables, having previously supported BEIS develop Nuclear Fusion Policy and Regulation. At Gravitricity, Ethan looks after the civil and geotechnical aspects of shaft sinking work which is crucial to the development of gravity storage and geo-hydrogen storage.