Single-Track Gravity Energy Storage System with Non-Standardized Multi-Unit Loads

With the increasing power fluctuations and growing pressure on grid stability resulting from the high penetration of renewable energy, the demand for exploring various energy storage technologies with large-scale, long-duration, and low-cost features has become increasingly urgent. This paper proposes a novel single-track gravity energy storage generation system. This system utilizes non-standardized masses (such as natural rocks) operating stably on an inclined track, and combines coordinated feedforward–feedback electromagnetic torque control, multi-station loading scheduling, and synchronous loading/unloading strategies to effectively smooth the power fluctuations of renewable energy sources such as wind power. The core innovations of this system lie in: (1) utilizing non-standardized mass units to achieve gravity energy storage, thereby expanding the application scenarios and design flexibility of solid gravity energy storage systems; and (2) introducing intelligent scheduling strategies and multi-station loading coordination to effectively smooth the power output fluctuations caused by load randomness, rendering the system insensitive to load variations. Simulation results verify that, for power smoothing in a 10 MW-level wind farm, the system can accurately track the target power and maintain a stable output over a long duration. The power fluctuations are controlled to under 0.2%, even when the total load varies by 10% and the instantaneous load fluctuates by 5%. This system demonstrates the theoretical feasibility and scalability of utilizing natural rock resources in mountainous terrains for long-duration energy storage, providing a novel solution for long-duration power smoothing in renewable energy systems.