Sustainable Energy Storage for Coastal Areas using Lighthouses

Abstract

Coastal areas are often regarded as the best sites to implement solar energy projects due to lack of shade. However, many of these coastal areas are either isolated from the grid or have poor power infrastructure. This paper proposes the conversion of lighthouses, which are present in most coastal areas, into gravity based energy storage units for solar power plants while maintaining their primary function. This solves the problems of intermittency, maintenance and environmental impacts due to improper disposal of lead acid batteries, issues that often accompany solar energy projects. In this paper, we design and simulate a solar power plant with gravity based energy storage for 15 houses, formulating a system that has a service life of more than 50 years due to its simple design and rugged build.