299 - Gravity Storage

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Guest: Eduard Heindl Host: Markus Voelter Shownoter: Fabian Zeisberger

With power generation in the grid becoming more diverse and decentralized, energy storage is becoming more and more important. Eduard Heindl‘s gravity storage is an approach to storing electrical energy as potential energy by lifting huge masses cut out of the ground. While this sounds crazy, there are lots of reasons why this makes sense. In the episode we discuss then need, the general approach, the construction process and some of the engineering challenges. We also look at the innovation process, the path from the idea to something that is ready to be built.

Introduction of Prof. Dr. Eduard Heindl

00:03:21

Prof. Dr. Eduard Heindl | Heindl Energy | Potential energy | Super conducting magnetic energy storage | Maxwell's equations | Capacitor | Renewable energy | Coal power | Nuclear Power | Thermal energy storage | Storage heater ("Nachtspeicherofen) | Pumped-storage hydroelectricity | Carnot's theorem (thermodynamics) | Solar power | Wind power | Compressed air energy storage | Decentralised energy | Smart grid | High-voltage direct current (HVDC/HGÜ) | Super grids

Basic Concept

00:33:36

OT 272 Pumped storage power plant in Kaprun (German) | Basic concept

Construction process

00:52:13

Construction | Wire saw | Goldisthal Pumped Storage Station

Engineering process

01:13:58

World Future Energy Summit | ITER | Zeppelin | Forklift | Geislinger Steige