Estimates suggest abandoned mine shafts could store enough electricity to power the planet

An abandoned mine in Finland is set to be transformed into a giant battery to store renewable energy during periods of excess production.

The Pyhäsalmi Mine, roughly 450 kilometres north of Helsinki, is Europe’s deepest zinc and copper mine and holds the potential to store up to 2 MW of energy within its 1,400-metre-deep shafts.

The disused mine will be fitted with a gravity battery, which uses excess energy from renewable sources like solar and wind in order to lift a heavy weight. During periods of low production, the weight is released and used to power a turbine as it drops.

  • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz
    3·
    11 months ago

    These cursed time units remind me of the super messy imperial units. Unfortunately, the French revolution wasn’t able to fix that, but it did fix a whole lot of other nonsense.

    • sugar_in_your_tea
      2·
      10 months ago

      What’s even worse is that some units differ between the US and UK, such as a cup. So you can’t even assume the wacky units are even consistent within themselves, you need to know which country you’re talking about.

      • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        10 months ago

        You know, there’s a reason why NASA and the US military use metric units. You just can’t afford to screw these things up because the units are a bit wonky.