Website: [gravitricity.com](https://gravitricity.com) ### Introduction Gravitricity is a UK-based energy storage company founded in 2011 by Martin Wright and Peter Fraenkel. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company focuses on developing innovative gravity-based energy storage solutions to support renewable energy integration and grid stability. While specific employee count data is not publicly available as of the latest updates, Gravitricity operates as a small to medium-sized enterprise with a specialized team dedicated to advancing its technology. Its mission is to provide long-duration, cost-effective energy storage by leveraging gravitational potential energy, offering an alternative to traditional battery systems and pumped hydro storage with a focus on sustainability and low environmental impact. As a private company, Gravitricity does not have a publicly traded ticker symbol. It has garnered attention for its novel approach to energy storage, particularly in regions with high renewable energy penetration, and continues to seek funding and partnerships to scale its technology from demonstration to commercial deployment. ### Key Products and Technology Gravitricity's primary technology revolves around gravity energy storage, utilizing underground shafts or purpose-built structures to store and release energy. Below is a detailed overview of its flagship offering: - **GraviStore (Gravity Energy Storage System)** - **Type**: Mechanical energy storage based on gravitational potential energy. - **Technical Specifications**: The system can be scaled to deliver power outputs ranging from 1 MW to 20 MW per installation, with storage capacities of several megawatt-hours (MWh). Efficiency is reported to be around 80-90%, comparable to lithium-ion batteries. Duration of storage can extend from minutes to hours, making it suitable for both short-term and long-duration applications. - **Energy Source**: Relies on excess electricity from renewable sources (e.g., wind or solar) to lift heavy weights, storing energy as gravitational potential, which is released by lowering the weights to generate electricity via a generator. - **Key Differentiators**: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, GraviStore has a long lifespan (up to 50 years) with minimal degradation, low maintenance costs, and no reliance on rare earth materials. It also offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical batteries and can repurpose decommissioned mine shafts, reducing land use impacts. - **Development Stage**: Currently in the demonstration and pilot phase. A small-scale prototype was successfully tested in Edinburgh in 2021, and the company is working toward larger demonstrator projects planned over the next few years. - **Target Customers**: Utilities, grid operators, renewable energy developers, and industrial sectors requiring reliable, long-duration storage for peak shaving, load balancing, and frequency regulation. Gravitricity's technology stands out for its ability to provide grid-scale storage without the environmental footprint of traditional solutions, positioning it as a promising player in the renewable energy ecosystem [gravitricity.com](https://gravitricity.com). ### Regulatory and Licensing Status As a non-nuclear energy storage technology, Gravitricity does not fall under the purview of nuclear regulatory bodies like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Instead, its regulatory requirements are tied to local energy and environmental permitting processes in regions where projects are deployed. The company must comply with grid interconnection standards, safety regulations for mechanical systems, and environmental impact assessments, particularly when repurposing old mine shafts or constructing new facilities. Key regulatory milestones include successful safety and operational validations for its pilot projects, such as the 2021 Edinburgh test. Upcoming regulatory focus will likely center on securing permits for larger demonstrator projects in Europe and potentially other regions like India, where a pilot was announced in 2022 [pv-magazine.com](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/29/gravitricity-launches-gravity-energy-storage-pilot-in-india/). There are no specific timelines for commercial deployment publicly disclosed, but based on recent funding drives and project announcements, first commercial operations could be targeted for the late 2020s, pending successful demonstration outcomes. Regulatory challenges may include site-specific approvals and integration into existing grid frameworks, which vary by country. ### Team and Leadership Gravitricity's leadership team combines expertise in engineering, renewable energy, and business development. Key figures include: - **Martin Wright (Founder and Executive Chairman)**: A seasoned entrepreneur with a background in renewable energy, Wright has been instrumental in shaping Gravitricity’s vision and securing early-stage funding. - **Charlie Blair (Managing Director)**: Blair oversees operations and strategic growth, bringing experience in energy project development and commercialization. - **Jill Macpherson (Finance Director)**: Macpherson manages financial strategy and fundraising efforts, critical to scaling the company’s demonstrator projects. Specific social media handles for the leadership team are not publicly verified or widely available in recent data, and thus are omitted here. The team’s focus remains on technical innovation and partnership building to advance GraviStore technology [gravitricity.com](https://gravitricity.com). ### Funding and Financial Position Gravitricity has raised significant funding to support its development, primarily through private investments and grants. As of the latest available information: - **Total Funding**: While exact totals are not fully disclosed, the company has secured multiple rounds of investment, including crowdfunding and institutional backing. - **Latest Round**: In July 2025, Gravitricity appointed Gneiss Energy to lead a £40 million funding drive aimed at developing three demonstrator projects over the next five years [solarpowerportal.co.uk](https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/solar-projects/gravitricity-appoints-gneiss-energy-to-lead-40-million-raise-to-spearhead-energy-storage-projects). - **Key Investors**: Previous backers include crowdfunding participants via platforms like Crowdcube, as well as grants from Innovate UK and other public funding bodies for clean energy innovation. - **Revenue Status**: Gravitricity remains pre-revenue, focusing on technology development and pilot projects rather than commercial sales. First contracts are likely contingent on successful demonstrator outcomes in the coming years. Financial data is limited due to the company’s private status, and no recent updates on cash reserves or burn rate are publicly available. The £40 million fundraising target signals strong investor interest but also underscores the capital-intensive nature of scaling gravity storage technology. ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Jul 24, 2025 | Funding Drive Announcement | Gravitricity appoints Gneiss Energy to lead a £40 million raise for three demonstrator projects over five years [solarpowerportal.co.uk](https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/solar-projects/gravitricity-appoints-gneiss-energy-to-lead-40-million-raise-to-spearhead-energy-storage-projects). | | Apr 2025 | Industry Report Highlight | Gravity energy storage, including Gravitricity’s approach, noted for long lifespan and environmental benefits in an MDPI review [mdpi.com](https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1812). | | Jan 2025 | Market Growth Projection | Gravity-based energy storage market, relevant to Gravitricity, expected to grow to USD 3.2 billion by 2034 with a 61.5% CAGR [gminsights.com](https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/gravity-based-energy-storage-market). | | Dec 2023 | Partnership with ABB | ABB collaborates with Gravitricity to explore hoist technology for gravity storage in former mine shafts [new.abb.com](https://new.abb.com/news/detail/110473/abb-and-gravitricity-to-collaborate-on-energy-storage-systems-using-end-of-life-mine-shafts-and-hoist-technology). | | Nov 2022 | Pilot Project in India | Gravitricity announces plans for a gravity energy storage pilot demonstration in India [pv-magazine.com](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/29/gravitricity-launches-gravity-energy-storage-pilot-in-india/). | Note: Information for 2025 beyond July is based on projections or market analyses rather than specific Gravitricity events, reflecting limited company-specific updates in the latter half of the year. ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **ABB (Technology Partnership)**: Since December 2023, ABB has collaborated with Gravitricity to leverage hoist expertise for deploying GraviStore in decommissioned mine shafts. This partnership enhances the feasibility of repurposing existing infrastructure and accelerates commercial adoption, particularly for ABB’s mining customers seeking sustainable solutions [new.abb.com](https://new.abb.com/news/detail/110473/abb-and-gravitricity-to-collaborate-on-energy-storage-systems-using-end-of-life-mine-shafts-and-hoist-technology). - **Innovate UK (Funding Partner)**: Gravitricity has received grants from Innovate UK to support early-stage development and testing, providing critical non-dilutive capital to advance its technology. - **Potential Utility Partnerships**: While no specific utility agreements are confirmed in recent data, Gravitricity’s target market includes grid operators and renewable developers, suggesting future offtake or integration contracts as projects scale. These collaborations highlight Gravitricity’s strategy of combining technical expertise with strategic funding to bridge the gap from pilot to commercial deployment. ### New Hampshire Relevance Gravitricity’s gravity energy storage technology could have potential relevance for [[New Hampshire]], though no direct connections or expressed interest in the Northeast US are documented in available data. Assessing its fit: - **Proximity to Infrastructure**: New Hampshire’s grid is part of the ISO New England (ISO-NE) system, which faces challenges with renewable integration and peak demand. GraviStore could support grid stability near facilities like [[Seabrook Station]], though the technology requires specific site conditions (e.g., deep shafts or suitable topography) that may not be readily available in NH without significant investment. - **Technology Readiness**: Currently in the demonstration phase, Gravitricity’s timeline for commercial deployment (likely late 2020s) may not align with immediate NH energy needs or legislative timelines for rapid decarbonization. - **Legislative Alignment**: NH’s House Bill 710 and interest in advanced energy solutions could support innovative storage like GraviStore, though the state’s focus on nuclear and battery storage may take precedence over unproven mechanical systems. - **Applications**: Potential uses include grid-scale storage for ISO-NE, backup power for data centers (a growing sector in NH), and industrial load balancing. Long-duration storage could complement variable renewable outputs from wind or solar in the region. - **NH Connections**: No specific ties to NH or the Northeast US are evident in current data. The company’s focus appears to be on Europe and India for initial deployments. While Gravitricity’s technology offers a sustainable storage option, its early-stage status and site-specific requirements may limit near-term applicability in NH without targeted partnerships or state incentives. ### Competitive Position Gravitricity operates in the growing long-duration energy storage market, competing with both established and emerging technologies. Compared to key competitors: - **[[Energy Vault]]**: Another gravity storage innovator, Energy Vault uses above-ground concrete blocks and cranes, achieving commercial projects (e.g., in China) faster than Gravitricity. However, Gravitricity’s underground approach may offer land-use advantages and better integration with existing mine infrastructure. - **Tesla (Battery Storage)**: Tesla’s lithium-ion battery systems dominate grid-scale storage with proven scalability and faster deployment. Gravitricity counters with longer lifespan and no reliance on rare materials, though it lags in market readiness. - **Pumped Hydro Storage**: The dominant long-duration storage solution, pumped hydro offers massive capacity but is geographically constrained and capital-intensive. Gravitricity’s smaller footprint and flexibility with site repurposing provide a niche advantage, though it cannot yet match pumped hydro’s scale. Gravitricity’s unique underground design and sustainability focus are advantages, but risks include slower commercialization and competition from batteries’ declining costs. Its success hinges on proving cost-competitiveness in upcoming demonstrators. ### Closing Note Gravitricity is at a pivotal demonstration stage, with a promising trajectory in gravity energy storage and a strong outlook contingent on securing funding and scaling pilot projects. *Report generated December 24, 2025*