Materials for Download — GrEnMine
GrEnMine – Gravitational Energy Storage in the Post-Mine Areas
Project duration: 01.07.2024 – 30.06.2027
Total project value: €3,551,699.80
Programme: Research Fund for Coal & Steel (RFCS),
Project number (ID): 101157790
The main objective of the GrEnMine project is to develop novel gravitational energy storage systems located in former mining areas and waste dump sites. These systems move heavy blocks or bulk granular materials between different elevations to store and release energy.
To validate this gravitational storage technology, the project will include detailed mathematical modelling, physical testing with small-scale demonstrators, and the creation of a comprehensive tool for assessing the suitability of open-pit mining sites for gravity-based energy storage.
GrEnMine addresses the growing challenge of energy storage in the context of the global energy transition, where increasingly unstable renewable sources such as solar and wind dominate. Unlike conventional pumped hydro storage, which accounts for 98% of global storage capacity but faces significant geographic and economic constraints, GrEnMine offers a flexible, low-impact solution.
The project directly supports a just transition for former coal regions by repurposing degraded post-mining landscapes into assets for clean energy infrastructure. It is aligned with the research priorities of the Research Fund for Coal & Steel (RFCS). Introducing innovative, practical applications of gravitational energy storage technologies contributes to the objective of “Supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions.”
Dedicated profile on the Linkedin platform: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grenmine.
Consortium
The project is carried out by an international scientific and industrial consortium composed of:
Achlada Mines – LTGNTTORYCHETA Achladas A.E.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology ,
AGH University of Krakow ,
Societatea Complexul Energetic Oltenia S.A. ,
POLTEGOR Institute of Open Cast Mining ,
Technical University of Crete ,
University of Petroșani ,
VUHU a.s. ,
Four Point Sp. z o.o. ,
PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A.,
PWr
Dofinansowano ze środków budżetu państwa w ramach programu „Projekty Międzynarodowe Współfinansowane”. Zadanie pn. „Grawitacyjne magazynowanie energii na terenach pogórniczych” (GrEnMine),
nr umowy: 101157790-GrEnMine.
Akronim: GrEnMine
Wartość dofinansowania: 1 613 842,00 PLN
wartość zadania: 3 551 699,80 EUR
Umowa o dofinansowanie nr 6056/FBWiS/2024/2025/2, zawarta w dniu 04.07.2025 r.
AGH
Dofinansowano ze środków budżetu państwa w ramach programu „Projekty Międzynarodowe Współfinansowane”. Zadanie pn. „Grawitacyjne magazynowanie energii na terenach pogórniczych” (GrEnMine),
nr umowy: 101157790-GrEnMine.
Akronim: GrEnMine
Wartość dofinansowania: 1 098 721,00 PLN.
wartość zadania: 3 551 699,80 EUR
Umowa o dofinansowanienr 6171/FBWiS/2025/2 została zawarta w dniu 06.11.2025 r.
Materials
GrEnMine develops and validates gravitational energy storage systems designed for former mining areas and waste dump sites.
The project combines engineering design, geotechnical assessment, and real-site validation to ensure that gravity-based storage solutions are structurally safe, scalable, and deployment-ready.
- The system stores excess renewable electricity by elevating mass and releases it through controlled descent.
- Full-scale simulations and mechanical modelling verify structural stability under static and dynamic loads.
- A demonstrator installation validates integration with existing terrain and grid infrastructure.
- A digital terrain assessment tool supports replication across European post-mining regions.
GrEnMine transforms elevation into energy infrastructure — built on calculation, not assumption.