Principal investigator: Xuanjie Wang
University: Lehigh University
Industry partner: Nearth Company
Balancing the erratic supply of green energy with demand is a critical challenge. Current battery storage solutions face several limitations, including high costs, energy losses, and large footprints. To address these issues, we propose testing the Payload Hauler: Omni-Directional (PHOD, per US Patent 20,130,239,711) as an innovative, cost-effective, and compact potential energy storage solution. PHOD leverages excess green energy (e.g., wind or solar) to lift heavy weights, storing potential energy. During low energy availability, the weights are lowered to drive a generator, providing consistent, around-the-clock power. This process offers a scalable alternative to traditional storage methods. We aim to manufacture a functional prototype to evaluate PHOD’s efficiency, energy losses, and feasibility compared to existing technologies. Potentially PHOD could enable flexible, localized energy storage solutions suitable for applications ranging from large-scale grids to individual homes, significantly enhancing the reliability and accessibility of green energy systems.