Gravity Power Grid-Scale Electricity Storage System

Gravity Power, LLC, a spin-off of LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc., has recently announced the development of a revolutionary grid-scale electricity storage system. The company’s new Gravity Power Module (GPM) exploits the established principles of pumped storage hydropower, but extends the concept in a new direction: Down.

Formerly known as LaunchPoint Innovations LLC, Gravity Power is a venture-backed startup that is less than one year old. Jim Fiske, Founder and CEO, worked in collaboration with LaunchPoint Technologies to obtain venture capital and hire key employees for the initial development stage of the project.  The current team includes:

• Jim Fiske, Founder and CEO
• Chris Grieco, Executive Vice President
• John Gentry, Director of Civil Engineering
• Jennifer Barr, Manager, Site Selection and Environmental Oversite
• JingChun Wu, Chief Scientist
• Jon Wright, Senior Mechanical Engineer

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is the only large-scale electricity storage technology widely used today, with over 120,000 megawatts of capacity worldwide. However, a new PSH installation typically takes 11-15 years to develop and an investment exceeding one billion dollars before a single watt of power is produced. It also has severe siting limitations due to the need for two large reservoirs at different elevations and the resulting environmental disruption.

In contrast, the Gravity Power Module can be quickly installed underground with virtually no environmental impact. The modular, closed system has a very small footprint that can be sited almost anywhere electricity storage is needed. With a combination of proven technologies and ground-breaking system architecture, the GPM has better operating characteristics and economics than conventional pumped storage, compressed air energy storage, or batteries.

Gravity Power LLC is currently in discussions with potential strategic partners and continues to explore collaborative development opportunities.