researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) conceived a gravity based system The system will use elevators in high-rise buildings to generate and store electricity. This system, called elevator energy storage technology (lest), will rely on elevators already installed in existing buildings.
When no one takes the elevator, the energy is stored by lifting the container containing wet sand or other high-density materials. These materials are filled by the automatic Trailer equipment and transported between the ground floor and the top floor. The regenerative braking system on the elevator is most effective when carrying heavy objects. The power generated by it can be stored on site and used as needed.
Researchers have found that there are more than 18million elevators running around the world, many of which are stationary for a large amount of time. When an elevator is not used to transport people, it can actually be used to store or generate electricity.
The lead author julianhunt said that he came up with the idea after moving into an apartment on the 14th floor of a building and spending a lot of time on the elevator.
However, there are several obstacles to the practical use of this technology. First, the ceiling bearing capacity of existing buildings - that is, how much weight the ceiling can support without collapse - must be considered. Operators also need to leave space at the top and bottom of the building to store heavy objects, and consider how much additional wear and tear the system will bring to the existing elevator infrastructure.