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 creating a comprehensive tool for
assessing the suitability of open-pit mining sites for gravity-based energy storage.
GrEnMine responds to the growing challenge of energy storage within 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
The project is carried out by an international scientific and industrial consortium composed of:
- 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.,
- Achlada Mines – LTGNTTORYCHETA Achladas A.E.
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