Investigation of Potential Benefits and Challenges of Using Gravity Energy Storage in Residential Sectors

Energy Storage System (ESS) has been integrated with renewable energy systems (RES) and fuel-based power plants to store energy during off-peak hours and serve users during peak hours. Its incorporation has resulted in game-changing advantages such as increased RES reliability, improved environmental conditions, supportive energy-generation mix, and so on. Nonetheless, Malaysia's energy storage market is dominated by battery energy storage systems (BESS), which has resulted in several problems, namely its massive carbon footprint and high cost, leading to the discovery of renewable energy storage systems (RESS). This study focuses on studying the benefits and challenges of gravity energy storage systems (GESS) in comparison to BESS. The GESS is a recently developed technology in the RESS industry. Even though it is still in the research and development stage, experts are optimistic about its potential benefits in storing unprecedentedly enormous amounts of electricity. The type of GESS studied in this research is the underground GESS with suspended weights (SGESS) which stores/generates energy by lifting/dispatching weights in a (500 – 5000) m shaft. The research findings supported GESS by demonstrating a surprising cost-effective conclusion when utilizing unused mines within Malaysia with no drilling required, rounding to a 2786 MYR (664 USD) Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), compared to BESS high LCOE of 7.2 MM MYR (1.72 MM USD) to store energy at the same community scale. Other benefits include lower operating and maintenance costs, less environmental damage, and a greater depth of discharge, to name a few, concluding this research by labeling GESS the most cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to BESS.