Skyscrapers that convert and store energy are an innovative idea from the company Energy Vault. So far, four systems have already been developed that use gravity and water to ‘produce’ it. Some of the energy storage facilities will be able to be mounted on the slopes of mountains. The Skidmore, Owings & Merill (SOM) studio is responsiblefor the design of the systems. The design studio is famous for projects such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, One World Trade Center in New York and Rondo 1 in Warsaw.
Energy Vault has developed several energy storage and conversion systems. The company’s products are grouped together under the name G-Vault GESS. The Gravity Energy Storage System (GESS) technology converts energy by pulling out heavy weights and dropping them from a great height. Variants of this technology will find use in very high skyscrapers or steep slopes. In this way, energy can be ecologically processed and stored.
Large batteries
The EVu system involves attaching an empty cylindrical tower to a high-rise building. The object can also be incorporated into a block of buildings more than 300 m high. A mechanism based on falling weights can power not only the skyscraper itself, but also some of the nearby buildings. It is worth mentioning that it is the energy self-sufficiency of buildings that is a major challenge in building the cities of the future.
EVc technology is also based on cylindrical towers and tall buildings, but in this case energy is converted using water. The details of this mechanism have not been explained in detail by the company. However, based on residual information, it can be speculated that the principle of EVc is similar to the process in pumped storage power plants. In this type of plant, water from a reservoir is pumped into a reservoir on top. The process is then reversed and the water drives a turbine.
A power plant reinvented
The other two systems use the topography of the terrain. EVy consists of ropes and weights suspended between two stations. The station at the top pushes the weight, which then hits the station located in the valley at high speed. Such energy storage facilities do not require the construction of any other buildings.

The EV0 system operates on a similar principle. The mechanism is like a redesigned hydroelectric power station. The difference is that no concrete is needed to build EV0. Nor does the system require drastic interventions in the landscape. Instead of concrete tanks, EV0 uses prefabricated material containers.
Energy Vault has tested its energy storage in Switzerland and further development will be carried out in more than 16 countries. The partnership with SOM is expected to accelerate the process of converting theory into practice. Although the company did not give specific dates for the launch of the systems, orders for construction in China have been signed as far back as 2023. The total capacity of energy storage in China is expected to be as high as 3.7 GWh.
SOM will design specific facilities using GESS-based products. Energy Vault has signed an exclusive service agreement with SOM for the construction of these small power plants. The company’s technologies are a step towards a greener and more cost-effective energy future.
Photo source: Business Wire, SOM
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