China commissions the world's first commercial gravity battery.

[u/BitschWack]

*"The principle of operation of a gravitational battery is much simpler than lithium-ion batteries. Basically, it's just a system of cranes that raise and lower concrete blocks.

The design include hoists that lift 30-ton composite blocks using an electric motor. The raised blocks are stacked on top of each other, which creates potential energy. At the moment when the consumer needs energy, the blocks fall under the influence of gravity, and the energy released in this process is collected and sent to where it required. The plant is capable of storing up to 100 MWh of energy and delivering 25 MW of power."*

[u/EvilMoSauron]

Wow! Did China talk with Elon Musk about marketing pseudoscience garbage? Are they going to showcase the perpetual motion machine next?

[u/BitschWack → u/EvilMoSauron]

Why do you think it is nonsense ? Switzerland, Scotland and the Czech Republic have all shown interest. I believe that Switzerland actually has a working system.

[u/ShitPostGuy → u/BitschWack]

Does gravity work differently in China than elsewhere?

They’re raising blocks weighing 27200kg. Potential energy is mass (in kg) times the acceleration of gravity on Earth (9.8m/s²⁾ times hight in meters. In order to store 3 megawatt hours of power (the output of a single wind turbine after 1 hour) that block would need to be lifted 40,516 meters into the air. For reference, climbing mount Everest from base to summit is only 8,800 meters.