The Australian startup is repurposing legacy mine shafts into clean energy hubs, marking the world’s first real-world test of its innovative storage technology.
Australian startup Green Gravity has signed a binding agreement with Wollongong Resources to trial its gravitational energy storage technology at the Russell Vale mine in New South Wales. The trial marks the world’s first deployment of the company’s system, transforming a legacy coal site into a pioneering clean energy project.
Building on an MoU signed in 2023, the technical trials will retrofit mine infrastructure with new electrical and mechanical components to test energy storage at depths of up to 400 metres. The project will run non-grid connected, with initial capacity trials at 150kW, laying the foundation for scaled testing.
Green Gravity’s technology, designed to convert disused mineshafts into gravity-based storage systems, could unlock vast capacity across Australia’s mining sector. Commercial applications are expected to deliver increments of up to 10MW lasting between 8 and 20 hours at individual sites. The startup has already secured AU$9 million in Series A funding from investors including HMC Capital, BlueScopeX, Pacific Channel, and Sumisho Coal Australia Holdings to support product development.
With feasibility studies underway, Green Gravity is preparing for a final investment decision on a demonstration plant in the coming months, with large-scale production trials targeted for 2026. The company is also exploring a 2GWh deployment in Northwest Queensland in collaboration with Mount Isa City Council and global mining giant Glencore.
