Ares advanced rail energy storage Heard and McDonald Islands

What is advanced rail energy storage?

Advanced Rail Energy Storage (ARES) uses proven rail technology to harness the power of gravity, providing a utility-scale storage solution at a cost that beats batteries. ARES’ highly efficient electric motors drive mass cars uphill, converting electric power to mechanical potential energy.

How does Ares energy storage work?

ARES energy storage technology employs a fleet of electric traction drive shuttle-trains, operating on a closed low-friction automated steel rail network to transport a field of heavy masses between two storage yards at different elevations.

How will Ares power a city?

ARES will use surplus wind/solar or other low-cost energy from the grid to move hundreds of tons (millions of pounds) of mass uphill on railroad shuttles, effectively storing thousands of megawatt-hours of potential energy to power a medium-sized city for several hours.

How long do ARES Systems last?

ARES systems are machines and have a 40-year service life with no degradation and no thermal runaway. ARES uses recycled steel rails, low-carbon and reclaimable mass cars, sophisticated motors and electronics, and freely available gravity, providing a fully sustainable renewable energy storage solution for utility-scale deployment.

Is Ares a good choice for long-duration energy storage?

ARES plans to actively participate in the frequency regulation market in CAISO , confident in their fast response time. Since there is no evaporation, as with PSH, the self-discharge rate or the energy loss during the storage is extremely low, making them an ideal candidate for long-duration energy storage.

How do Ares shuttle trains work?

During periods where excess energy is available on the grid, ARES shuttle-trains draw electricity from the grid, which powers their individual axle-drive motors, as they transport a continuous flow of masses uphill against the force of gravity to an upper storage yard.