Baud Resources, a pioneering clean-tech startup incubated at IIT-Kanpur, has created an innovative gravity-based energy storage system that employs common materials such as sand and industrial waste as weights. The company is currently developing a 100 MWh demonstration facility that promises an impressive levelised cost of storage at approximately ₹2.5 per kWh.
The unique energy storage solution harnesses gravitational potential energy and does not require water or dam structures, making it versatile enough for deployment in diverse environments such as plains, deserts, or areas with sub-zero temperatures. The system operates by moving sand from a lower elevation to a higher one, between 20 meters and 40 meters in height, effectively storing energy in the form of elevated mass.
The bespoke gravity storage system is specifically engineered to allow continuous mass movement, which ensures consistent load distribution during storage and retrieval of energy. The design is particularly advantageous as it can be integrated seamlessly with existing renewable energy installations like solar and wind farms, especially in locations where water scarcity or freezing conditions make traditional pumped hydro storage impractical.
As reported by Projects Today, a key feature of the technology is its innovative and lightweight load transfer mechanism that facilitates movement between the two stations.
