The cities of the future may take charge going forward for a very unexpected reason – with skylines doubling as massive energy storage units.
And the idea? Not solar panels and wind turbines – think giant battery blocks raised into the sky and brought back down to keep the lights on.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the architectural firm behind iconic structures such as the Burj Khalifa and One World Trade, has teamed up with Energy Vault to make this sci-fi concept a reality.
“Here’s an opportunity to take this expertise … and use it for energy storage, enabling us to get rid of [off] fossil fuels,” Bill Baker, who helped engineer the Burj Khalifa, told CNN.
To explain, imagine a skyscraper where a motor lifts large blocks into the air when demand for electricity is low, conserving potential energy. When the city’s energy needs a boost, the blocks come down, turning that energy back into electricity.
SOM and Energy Vault are looking for partners to bring these battery towers to life.
Their superstructure tower can reach heights of 985 to 3,300 feet and feature hollow shafts that resemble elevator shafts for moving blocks, while still housing residential and commercial spaces.
Firms are also exploring the use of pumped storage hydropower plants in skyscrapers, replacing water blocks. This configuration can store enough energy to power several multi-gigawatt-hour capacity buildings.
“If you’re going up a superstructure anyway, we’re just following it,” Energy Vault CEO Robert Piconi told the paper.
Skeptics may question whether these towers can bear the weight, both literally and financially.
But Energy Vault isn’t worried — they’ve already built a 492-foot energy storage behemoth in China, proving their concept works.
As the push for greener cities heats up, and with urbanization fueling demand for tall structures, these energy skyscrapers could be the future. And if Piconi and SOM have their way, they’ll be the ones powering it.
SOM’s reputation building tall buildings “will help address the challenge of building the first,” Piconi said.
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Image Source : nypost.com