Plans to turn Czech coal mine into storage, hydrogen and solar hub

Mine is also going to be the site of an experimental greenhouse project called Eden Silesia

A former coal mine in the Czech Republic could be transformed into a hub for energy storage, renewable energy and an experimental greenhouse based on the Eden Project.

The Darkov mine is located in the coal-rich Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic, near the city of Karviná.

Construction started in 1972 to access thick seams of coal more than 700 metres below the surface, and at its peak it employed around 4000 people. Now it is closed.

However, it could become the first full scale gravity energy store in Europe and also host a photovoltaic power plant and the production of green hydrogen.

The site will also be home to an experimental greenhouse project called EDEN Silesia, managed by the Silesian University of Technology and based on the concept of the Eden Project in Cornwall, England.

Diamo, a state-owned Czech company tasked with mitigating the consequences of the country’s uranium ore and coal mining, has signed a memorandum of understanding with UK underground energy storage company Gravitricity.

The companies will seek EU funds to transform a former mine into a 4MW/2MWh energy store capable of powering more than 16,000 homes.

Diamo chief executive Ludvík Kašpar said:“Our main task is to provide the liquidation of mines, but at the same time we are looking for new uses for the mine sites according to the needs of the region.”

Gravitricity’s method of storage is to suspend heavy weights totalling up to 12,000 tonnes in a deep shaft by cables attached to winches.

When there is excess electricity, for example on a windy day, the weight is winched to the top of the shaft ready to generate power.

The Edinburgh firm has already demonstrated a scale version of its technology that it built in partnership with Dutch winch specialists Huisman and it now plans to build full-scale schemes in the UK and worldwide.

It says future multi-weight systems could have a capacity of 25MWh or more.

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The deal with Diamo was signed at a formal ceremony at the British Embassy in Prague, where Gravitricity also signed a memorandum with VSB Technical University of Ostrava, whose specialist mining expertise will support the implementation of Gravitricity’s technology into the mine.

Gravitricity managing director Charlie Blair said hehoped the collaboration with Diamo “will allow us to demonstrate this technology at scale and offer a potential future for coal mines that are approaching the end of their original service life”.

The British Ambassador to the Czech Republic Matt Field said the project was “unique, transformative and green”.

Gravitricity estimates that worldwide there are around 14,000 mines which could be suitable for gravity energy storage.

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