Lifting storage unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting storage unit for storing and feeding back electrical energy and for adapting the grid load in a power grid (9) connected to the lifting storage unit, wherein the lifting storage unit has a plurality of lifting modules (4), and wherein each of the lifting modules (4) comprises a double cable winch arranged on the base, a lifting weight (4.2) suspended thereon on two winch cables (4.3), cable guides for guiding the winch cables (4.3) and the lifting weight (4.2), and an electronic unit for control and current conversion. The individual lifting modules (4) are controlled according to requirements by means of a central open-loop and control-loop control unit (5). As a result of its modular design, the lifting storage unit enables highly efficient, flexible energy buffering and is particularly suitable for integration into decentralised energy supply systems.

Description

[0001] hydroelectric power plant

[0002] The present invention relates to a pumped-storage power plant for storing and feeding back electrical energy, particularly for use in power grids with a high proportion of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic and wind power plants. The pumped-storage power plant serves to adjust grid load and to provide a fast, controllable instantaneous reserve.

[0003] With the planned decommissioning of conventional thermal power plants, the provision of instantaneous reserve by synchronized turbogenerators, which were electromagnetically coupled via the AC grid, is increasingly being eliminated. These machines were able to compensate for sudden load changes almost instantaneously without additional control interventions, thus contributing to grid stability. Photovoltaic and wind power plants lack such characteristics, as they feed in only their currently available power and do not possess any system-relevant buffer capacities. Gas turbines, on the other hand, exhibit a time delay of several minutes before they can effectively contribute to grid stabilization.

[0004] In power grids of all voltage levels – from local and distribution networks to transmission and interconnected networks – maintaining the grid frequency is of central importance for security of supply. If frequency adjustment fails to occur within a very short time, overloaded grid segments automatically shut down, which can lead to power outages. Due to the increasing share of renewable energies and the associated loss of traditional instantaneous reserves, there is a growing lack of technical means that can react quickly enough to grid frequency deviations.

[0005] Battery storage systems are used to bridge short-term energy fluctuations. However, these systems are subject to a technically determined limitation in their charge and discharge cycles, which significantly reduces their lifespan with frequent use. This represents a considerable limitation, particularly in the area of ​​grid stabilization, where frequent charging cycles are required.

[0006] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 A mechanical energy storage system for buffering electrical energy is known from WO 2024 / 002512 A1. This describes a lifting energy storage system consisting of a large number of individually controllable lifting modules. Each lifting module has an electrically operated winch and a vertically movable lifting weight suspended from it. Energy is stored by lifting the weight, whereby electrical energy is converted into potential energy. When required, the lifting weight can be lowered, thereby converting the stored potential energy back into electrical energy and feeding it into the grid. The control of the individual lifting modules and the coordination with the power grid are carried out by a central control and regulation unit, which both

[0007] The system includes power lines for energy transmission as well as data and control lines for communication. In addition, renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic or wind power plants are integrated into the system, from which energy can also be fed into the energy storage system.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a mechanical energy storage system for the temporary storage and recovery of electrical energy, enabling a particularly rapid response to changes in grid load. It is intended to support grid-friendly operation, in which electrical energy can be stored and fed back into the grid as needed to ensure a stable grid frequency. In particular, it is designed to meet the requirements of modern power grids with a high proportion of decentralized, renewable energy sources.

[0009] Furthermore, the task is to provide a storage system characterized by high operational reliability, low mechanical stress, and efficient energy conversion. The goal is also to achieve energy conversion independently of thermal delays or charge cycle limitations of conventional storage technologies. The solution should be equally suitable for feeding electricity from external grids as well as from locally generated renewable energy, while remaining flexibly controllable.

[0010] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 This problem is solved by a pumped storage power plant according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are listed in claims 2 to 10.

[0011] The hydroelectric power plant according to the invention is based on the basic structure known from WO 2024 / 002512 A1. In this respect, reference is made to the international patent application with application number PCT / EP2023 / 000034 and the associated publication with international publication number WO 2024 / 002512 A1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into this patent application.

[0012] The hydroelectric power plant according to the invention serves to store and feed back electrical energy and to adjust the grid load in a power grid of an interconnected power grid or an independent power supply system connected to the hydroelectric power plant. The hydroelectric power plant comprises a plurality of individually controllable lifting modules and a central control unit connected to the power grid. Each lifting module has a winch with at least one winch cable and a winch motor designed as an electric motor, which can be operated in motor and generator mode. Furthermore, each lifting module includes a lifting weight suspended from the winch cable for storing energy in the form of potential energy of the lifting weight by lifting the lifting weight by means of the winch and for utilizing the stored potential energy by lowering the lifting weight by means of the winch.Furthermore, each lifting module is equipped with a guidance system for guiding the lifting weight during raising or lowering, as well as with an electronic unit – typically installed in a control cabinet – for controlling the winch motor and converting the power. The electronic unit, or the control cabinet containing the electronic unit, can also be located remotely from the winch within the power station. The lifting weight is generally guided vertically by the guidance system.

[0013] A pumped storage power plant usually includes a structure, for example a building, in which the pumped storage modules are housed.

[0014] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The electronics unit and the winch motor of each of the lifting modules are connected to the central control unit via power lines as well as data and control lines. The lifting energy storage system is designed such that electrical energy from the power grid can be converted into potential energy of the lifting weights by individually controlling the lifting of the lifting weights via the central control unit, and the stored potential energy of the lifting weights can be converted back into electrical energy by individually controlling the lowering of the lifting weights.

[0015] According to the invention, the winch of each lifting module is a double winch arranged at the bottom of the respective lifting module, comprising two winch cables. This means that the two winch cables are wound and unwound synchronously onto the drum of the double winch. The two winch cables are wound in parallel, adjacent layers on the double winch; that is, when fully wound, each winch cable is wound in a single layer. Preferably, the two parallel layers are wound symmetrically.

[0016] The lifting weight of each lifting module is suspended from two winch cables, which are attached to the lifting weight at two spaced-apart suspension points. The guide system for guiding the lifting weight includes the two winch cables and, for each winch cable, a cable guide that deflects the respective winch cable on the ceiling side, i.e., above the lifting weight, within the lifting module. Each cable guide for deflecting the respective winch cable includes a first deflection pulley in the form of a fixed pulley, located on the ceiling side of the respective lifting module. The respective winch cable forms a first cable section between the winch and the first deflection pulley and a counter-rotating second cable section between the first deflection pulley and the suspension point on the lifting weight. The second cable sections of the two winch cables are preferably parallel to each other, and in particular, perpendicular to each other. The first deflection pulley, located on the ceiling side of the lifting module, i.e., above the lifting weight, guides the cable through the first deflection pulley.If the lifting weight is located above the lifting weight, the lifting weight can be lifted by the winch installed on the ground via the first deflection pulley to a maximum lifting height near this first deflection pulley.

[0017] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The guidance system can include, in addition to the winch cables and cable guide, for example, rails or other guide mechanisms for the precise and safe movement of the lifting weight. Preferably, however, the guidance system is limited to the winch cables and the cable guide, i.e., the lifting weight hangs freely from the two winch cables and is guided by the two winch cables.

[0018] The electrical energy for lifting the lifting weights is primarily drawn from the connected power grid, which serves as the energy source, particularly when there is excess capacity in the grid. In addition, the pumped storage power plant can be connected to other energy sources, such as renewable energy generators located on, at, or near the power plant structure. These locally installed renewable energy generators can include photovoltaic systems for solar power generation or wind turbines for wind power generation. Furthermore, the pumped storage power plant can also incorporate or be connected to a biomass power plant as a renewable energy source. The renewable energy generators can provide regeneratively generated electricity in either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC).

[0019] The control unit is programmed to manage the storage of excess electricity from the grid or from other energy sources, such as renewable energy generators, in the form of potential energy of the lifting weights in the individual lifting modules. The control unit is typically computer-aided and remotely controllable, allowing, for example, the grid operator – particularly for grid load management – ​​to control the feed-in of electricity from the grid to the hydroelectric power plant and vice versa.

[0020] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The control unit also regularly includes a storage unit that records which electrical energy from which energy source was fed into which lifting module. This enables the stored potential energy of the lifting weights to be assigned to the original energy source, i.e., a single-source energy storage system. When the potential energy is fed into the power grid, the original energy source can thus be assigned to the fed-in current.

[0021] The potential energy stored in the lifting modules can be fed into the power grid in small, modulated amounts. This enables flexible control of the grid load. The fragmentable, instantly available power feed-in allows for efficient grid load adjustment and control. As a rapidly controllable energy buffer, the described lifting storage plant thus contributes to ensuring grid stability in power grids with decentralized energy sources.

[0022] The hub modules are regularly designed so that they can be started without additional auxiliary energy and their charge level is maintained when not in use.

[0023] The electronic unit of each lifting module regulates its interaction with the power grid via the control unit. Each lifting module, i.e., its electronic unit and its winch motor, is connected to the central control unit via one or more power lines; the central control unit, in turn, connects the lifting storage system to the power grid. Furthermore, the control unit is connected to each lifting module via one of the data and control lines to manage energy storage in and energy extraction from the lifting modules.

[0024] The modular design of the pumped-storage power plant offers significant advantages in terms of scalability, maintenance, and adaptability. The numerous individually controllable pumping modules allow the plant to be flexibly adapted to varying power requirements by simply adding or removing modules as needed. This enables a phased approach to expansion.

[0025] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 Expansion of storage capacity without fundamental modifications to the overall system. Furthermore, the modular structure allows for targeted maintenance or replacement of individual lifting modules without interrupting the operation of the entire pumped storage facility. This decentralization of functional units significantly increases system availability and operational reliability. It also facilitates optimized space utilization within the structure.

[0026] The double winch with single-layer winding enables higher lifting speeds than other winch designs and thus contributes to the rapid conversion of electrical energy into potential energy (or vice versa) by means of the lifting module. The single-layer winding also reduces friction and rope wear, which is more pronounced with multi-layer winding. Since the lifting modules are typically continuously active during regular operation of the pumped-storage power plant, and the lifting weights are frequently moved up and down, low friction and minimal rope wear are of particular importance. These factors are crucial for the high mechanical efficiency that characterizes the winch design according to the invention and also contribute to a long, low-maintenance service life for the lifting modules.

[0027] Suspending the lifting weight with both winch cables secures its position more effectively than a single-cable suspension. Furthermore, the force is distributed across both winch cables. The double cable suspension also provides fault tolerance and redundancy in case one of the winch cables is mechanically damaged.

[0028] One of the advantages of mounting the winch at ground level (on the base of the lifting module or the structure) in conjunction with deflecting the winch cables at the ceiling level is that the operating vibrations emanating from the winches can be dissipated into the ground and are not transmitted, or only to a minimal extent, to the building structure. In contrast, mounting the winches in the ceiling area or above the lifting weight, which is also a possibility, can lead to undesirable vibrations – primarily due to…

[0029] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 the multitude of lifting modules in the lifting storage plant - in the supporting structure.

[0030] Regardless of load management, whether large amounts of electricity are being fed in or drawn from the grid, the conversion efficiency in the pumped-storage power plant remains virtually constant. This flexible power range can be adjusted via the speed and the number of pumping modules.

[0031] For power conversion, the electronic unit typically includes one or more inverters. This allows the use of direct current (for example, from energy sources such as photovoltaics) as well as surplus alternating current from the power grid.

[0032] The lifting weight can be designed according to requirements, for example made of concrete (approx.

[0033] 2.4 t / m 3 ), made of iron (approx. 7.8 t / m²) 3 ) or from one containing water (approx. 1 t / m²) 3) filled container. Preferably, the lifting weight comprises several ballast bodies, which are particularly stackable on top of each other and, for example, are mounted on a central linkage of the lifting weight in the required number or are individually connected to each other by suitable connecting elements.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the pumped storage power plant according to the invention can be realized through an environmentally friendly construction made of recyclable building materials.

[0035] Steel or plastic ropes can be used as winch ropes.

[0036] In particular, plastic ropes, for example made of polyethylene, polyester, or polyamide, have proven suitable due to their lower mass and reduced friction. Ropes made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are especially preferred for this application; they are characterized by extremely high tensile strength, low elongation under load, low mass, abrasion resistance, and durability. The diameter of the winch rope is typically in the range of 25 mm ± 5 mm.

[0037] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The respective cable guide can also have a second pulley in the form of a loose roller, with the lifting weight attached to the second pulley to reduce the lifting forces. That is, the second pulley is attached to the respective suspension point of the lifting weight. The respective winch cable forms—in addition to the first and second cable sections—a third cable section that extends from the suspension point of the lifting weight or the second pulley to an attachment point of the winch cable located on the ceiling of the lifting module. Due to the double cable guide with the two pulleys, i.e., the first and second pulleys, the necessary pulling force on the winch cable—i.e., the force that the winch must exert to lift the lifting weight—is reduced to a quarter compared to the design with only a single-pulled winch cable.In an extension of this design, the first and second pulleys can also be part of a block and tackle system.

[0038] The hydroelectric power plant according to the described basic design can also include a cooling system, preferably a cooling system with a closed coolant circuit in which a coolant, for example oil or water, is circulated between a heat sink and one or more heat sources. The heat sources are the winch motors and / or the electronic units of the lifting modules, which are subjected to high loads during speed control at one-minute intervals. A cooling unit integrated into the coolant circuit is provided for each winch motor and / or electronic unit of the lifting modules. The cooling unit is either integrated into the respective winch motor or electronic unit or attached to the respective component for cooling purposes. This cooling unit can, for example, consist of cooling coils, heat exchangers, or similar flow-through coolers.The cooling system dissipates the heat energy generated by the movement of the winch motors and the stress on the electronic units (especially during power conversion via the inverters) from these components of the lifting modules and transports it via the coolant circuit to the heat sink. The cooling system thus collects the heat or waste heat from the heat sources. The heat sink of the cooling system can, for example, be a central heat exchanger integrated into the coolant circuit, which releases the excess heat from the cooling system.

[0039] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 Preferably, the central heat exchanger is a district heating transfer station, i.e., a heat exchanger by means of which the excess waste heat is transferred to a district heating network for further use. The cooling system can also or additionally include a water-to-air heat exchanger as a heat sink, by means of which the waste heat is transferred to the environment, for example, when there is no demand for district heating in summer and cooling of the components integrated into the coolant circuit is necessary to lower their temperature. Since the lifting modules are generally always in operation during conventional operation of the pumped storage plant for the purpose of grid adjustment, i.e., the lifting weights are frequently moved up and down, a certain amount of waste heat is always generated in the cooling system by the operation of the winch motors and the stress on the electronic units, which is preferably used as district heating.

[0040] Furthermore, it can be provided that – when the electronic units are equipped with inverters for power conversion – each inverter is designed to absorb and supply reactive power, with the central control unit controlling the inverters of the hub modules for reactive power compensation in the power grid. This makes it possible to use the inverters of the electronic units to compensate for reactive power in the power grid according to instantaneous demand, thus benefiting the grid. This is important because the inverters represent a new type of instantaneous reserve or its replacement. Reactive power compensation with inverters is an efficient method for improving grid quality and minimizing reactive power loads.The targeted provision or absorption of reactive power by means of inverters is achieved by controlling the phase angle between current and voltage, whereby the reactive current is fed into or taken from the power grid.

[0041] Inductive reactive power, often caused by devices such as electric motors or transformers, can be compensated by the inverter through the generation of capacitive reactive power. Conversely, capacitive reactive power, for example from long cable runs, can be compensated by the inverter's inductive reactive power. This is achieved through precise

[0042] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 Pulse width modulation and corresponding control algorithms have been achieved, enabling the inverter to react dynamically to fluctuations in the grid.

[0043] A key advantage of reactive power compensation using a pumped-storage power plant lies in the large number of inverters (since each pumped-storage module typically includes at least one inverter within its electronics unit). Central control of the pumped-storage modules (including the inverters) via the central control unit enables the demand-driven provision of active and reactive power for grid stabilization. Particularly in modern energy grids characterized by distributed generation, this function helps to reduce transmission losses and optimize the use of existing infrastructure capacity. Furthermore, the inverters (via the central control unit) can interact directly with grid control systems using communication protocols to obtain dynamic reactive power setpoints and operate in accordance with grid requirements.

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and to the schematic drawings, wherein identical or similar features are provided with the same reference numerals; to this end, the following are shown:

[0045] Fig. 1 : a pumped storage power plant according to the state of the art in perspective view;

[0046] Fig. 2: the lifting module with double winch according to a design with monolithic lifting weight in schematic representation;

[0047] Fig. 3: the lifting module with double winch according to an embodiment with a lifting weight consisting of 10 concrete ballast bodies in side view;

[0048] Fig. 4: the lifting module with double winch according to an embodiment with a lifting weight consisting of 10 cast iron ballast bodies in side view;

[0049] Fig. 5: the lifting module with double winch according to a design with a lifting weight consisting of 10 concrete ballast bodies in front view;

[0050] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 Fig. 6: the lifting module with double winch according to an embodiment with a lifting weight made of concrete ballast bodies in horizontal section view from above;

[0051] Fig. 7: two lifting modules with double winch according to an embodiment with a lifting weight made of concrete ballast bodies in horizontal section view from above;

[0052] Fig. 8: the installation of the double winches of two lifting modules on an installation channel in a side vertical section view;

[0053] Fig. 9: the installation of six hub modules along an installation channel in a horizontal section view from above;

[0054] Fig. 10: an embodiment of the pumped storage plant with a plurality of pumped modules in a horizontal section view and a vertical section view.

[0055] The basic structure of the pumped storage power plant according to Fig. 1 corresponds to that shown in

[0056] WO 2024 / 002512 A1 disclosed the plant. The pumped storage plant comprises structure 1 with a plurality of pumped storage modules 4, which together form a pumped storage system. In the example according to Fig. 1, there are 80 pumped storage modules 4 in structure 1. The pumped storage modules 4 are each connected to the control unit 5 via one of the power lines 11 and one of the data and control lines 12. The control unit 5, in turn, is connected to the power grid 9, from which electrical energy can be stored in the pumped storage plant as potential energy of the pumped storage modules 4, or electrical energy from the pumped storage plant can be fed into the power grid 9 – depending on the demand in the power grid 9, but especially for regulating grid stability. Various renewable energy sources are also connected to the control unit 5.Electricity generators are connected, namely a photovoltaic system 6, a wind turbine 7, and / or a biomass power plant 8, which also provide electrical energy for storage in the pumped storage facility. The photovoltaic system 6 is preferably installed on the roof 2 and / or on the south side 3 of the building 1. For location-independent control of the pumped storage facility, its control unit 5 is equipped with a remote control 10. In the exemplary embodiment according to the prior art, each of the lifting modules 4 has the cable winch 4.1 installed on the ceiling and the lifting weight 4.2 attached to the cable winch 4.1 by means of a single winch cable 4.3.

[0057] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The ceiling-side installation of the winches 4.1 and the use of only one winch cable 4.3 for attaching the lifting weight 4.2 of the lifting storage plant shown in Fig. 1 according to the prior art differs from the lifting storage plant according to the invention; however, in their basic structure they largely correspond.

[0058] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the lifting module 4 of the proposed lifting energy storage system. The lifting module 4 comprises the winch 4.1, designed as a double winch, with the first winch cable 4.3.1 and the second winch cable 4.3.2, each wound in a single layer on the drum of the winch 4.1. The lifting weight 4.2 is attached to both winch cables 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2. Each of the two winch cables 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2 is guided over a separate cable guide, each comprising the first deflection pulley 4.4 and the second deflection pulley 4.5. The first deflection pulley 4.4 of each cable guide is designed as a fixed pulley, which is attached to the ceiling area of ​​the lifting module 4. The second deflection pulley 4.5 is a movable pulley. The lifting weight 4.2 is connected to the second deflection pulley 4.5 of the rope guide of the first winch rope 4.3.1 and to the second deflection pulley 4.5 of the rope guide of the second winch rope 4.3.2, whereby the lifting weight 4.2 is attached to two suspension points.

[0059] The illustrations of the lifting module 4 according to Figs. 3 and 4 show, in side view, the routing of the winch cables 4.3, with only one of the winch cables 4.3 visible and the other concealed: The first cable section of each winch cable 4.3 runs from the winch 4.1 installed at ground level to the first pulley 4.4 (fixed pulley); the second cable section of each winch cable 4.3 runs from the first pulley 4.4 installed at ceiling level to the second pulley 4.5 (loose pulley) attached to the suspension point of the lifting weight 4.2 by means of a hook; and the third cable section of each winch cable 4.3 runs from the second pulley 4.5 to the ceiling-mounted attachment point where the end of the respective winch cable 4.3 is fixed. The lifting weight 4.2 comprises several ballast bodies stacked on top of each other and connected to one another. In the design of the lifting module 4 according to the Fig.3. These are made of concrete, and in the design of the lifting module 4 according to Fig. 4, they are made of grey cast iron or iron materials. Due to the lower.

[0060] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The maximum stroke of the lifting weight 4.2 with cast iron ballast bodies can be significantly increased by the height at which the lifting weight 4.2 is positioned. The storage capacity of the lifting modules 4 with cast iron ballast bodies is approximately 15% higher than that of the lifting modules 4 with concrete ballast bodies.

[0061] The lifting weights 4.2, comprising the stacked ballast bodies shown in the lifting module 4 according to Figs. 3 and 4, offer an advantage during assembly and disassembly of the respective lifting weight 4.2. In a standard configuration of the lifting module 4, the mass of the lifting weight 4.2 is approximately 50 t. The double winch used in the lifting module 4 has a winch motor with a power output of 250 kW. Assembling or disassembling a lifting weight 4.2 of 501 in a monolithic configuration is hardly possible with conventional mobile lifting equipment. To enable the use of such equipment, the individual ballast bodies are designed with a mass of approximately 5 t. These ballast bodies can be transported using conventional mobile lifting equipment, such as forklifts or pallet trucks. Advantageously, the lifting weight 4.2 is mounted by successively mounting the individual ballast bodies, whereby the ballast bodies already mounted are secured with the winch 4.1. The ballast body to be newly installed can be lifted and attached from below to the ballast bodies already installed. This method allows the lifting weight 4.2 to be mounted close to the ground without having to achieve greater lifting heights with the mobile lifting equipment.

[0062] The design of the lifting module 4 according to Fig. 5 corresponds to that shown in Fig. 3 and depicts both winch cables 4.3, whereby for the first winch cable 4.3.1 and the second winch cable 4.3.2, only the second cable section between the first deflection pulley 4.4 and the second deflection pulley 4.5 is shown; the first cable section between the winch 4.1 and the first deflection pulley 4.4 is omitted. The second cable sections of the two winch cables 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2 are guided vertically and consequently parallel to each other by the dimensioning and arrangement of the first deflection pulley 4.4, the suspension points on the lifting weight 4.2, and the second deflection pulley 4.5. This ensures precise guidance of the lifting weight 4.2 during lifting and lowering.

[0063] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The design of the lifting module 4 according to Fig. 6 corresponds again to that according to Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, wherein the top view of the winch 4.1 and the lifting weight 4.2 is taken from a horizontal section plane that lies above the (not shown) second deflection pulley 4.5 and below the ceiling-side penetrations under the first deflection pulley 4.4. The sections through the two winch cables 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2 each show the cross-section of the

[0064] Winch cables 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2 are located in the first cable section (top), in the second cable section (middle), and in the third cable section (bottom). As can be seen, the arrangement of the second and third cable sections is chosen such that the suspension points located on the centerline of the lifting weight 4.2 are situated midway between the second and third cable sections. This ensures that the lifting weight 4.2 is suspended without tilting via the second deflection pulley 4.5 (not shown).

[0065] Figure 7 shows a paired arrangement of two lifting modules 4 according to the embodiment shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6. The alternating or rotationally symmetrical arrangement enables optimal space utilization.

[0066] Fig. 8 shows two of the winches 4.1, which are anchored in a ground foundation according to the arrangement of the lifting modules 4 shown in Fig. 7. An installation channel 14 runs between the two winches 4.1, or rather between the lifting modules 4 to which the winches 4.1 are assigned. The power lines 11, the data and control lines 12, and the coolant circuit lines 13 run through this channel.

[0067] An arrangement of six lifting modules 4, alternately oriented differently, along the installation channel 14 is shown in Fig. 9. From the installation channel 14, the power lines 11 in the form of electrical distributors and the lines of the coolant circuit 13 in the form of cooling distributors branch off alternately to the winch motors of the cable winches 4.1.

[0068] An embodiment of the pumped storage power plant according to the invention is shown in two partial views in Fig. 10, namely in a horizontal section according to Fig. 10 (a) and in a vertical section according to Fig. 10 (b); the section plane AA of the vertical section

[0069] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 according to Fig. 10 (b) is shown in Fig. 10 (a). The horizontal section according to Fig. 10 (a) lies in the lowest level 1.0, i.e., level 0.

[0070] Structure 1 of the pumped storage power plant is a four-story building constructed as a load-bearing structure. The lowest level, 1.0 (level 0), comprises a service and transport corridor alongside the rows of pumping modules 4, whose winches 4.1 are also located on the lowest level, 1.0, anchored in the ground foundation. The first level, 1.1 (level 1), houses the staff facilities, including restrooms, changing rooms, break rooms, and the control room. Additionally, the central heat exchanger 15 of the cooling system, connected to a district heating network and consisting of two plate heat exchangers, is installed on the first level, 1.1. The upper floors 1.2, 1.3, i.e. floor 2 and floor 3, contain the control cabinets 16 with the electronic units of the lifting modules 4. The power lines 11 and the lines of the coolant circuit 13 connect the components of the lifting storage plant for the extraction or supply of electrical energy or for cooling or waste heat utilization.

[0071] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 Reference List

[0072] 1 building

[0073] 1.0 Floor 0

[0074] 1.1 Floor 1

[0075] 1.2 Floor 2

[0076] 1.3 Floor 3

[0077] 2 roof

[0078] 3 South side

[0079] 4 lifting module

[0080] 4.1 Winch

[0081] 4.2 Lifting weight

[0082] 4.3 Winch cable

[0083] 4.3.1 first winch cable

[0084] 4.3.2 second winch cable

[0085] 4.4 First pulley

[0086] 4.5 second deflection pulley

[0087] 5 Control and regulation unit 6 Photovoltaic system

[0088] 7 Wind turbines

[0089] 8 Biomass power plant

[0090] 9 Power grid

[0091] 10 Remote control

[0092] 11 Power line

[0093] 12 Data and control lines

[0094] 13 Coolant circuit

[0095] 14 installation channels

[0096] 15 heat exchangers

[0097] 16 control cabinets

[0098] W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025

Claims

Patent claims 1. Pumped storage power plant for storing and feeding back electrical energy and for adjusting grid load in a power grid (9) of a power grid network or an autonomous power supply system connected to the pumped storage power plant, wherein the pumped storage power plant comprises a plurality of individually controllable pumping modules (4) and a central control and regulation unit (5) connected to the power grid (9), each of the lifting modules (4) has: a winch (4.1) with at least one winch rope (4.3) and with a winch motor designed as an electric motor that can be operated in motor and generator mode, a lifting weight (4.2) suspended from the winch cable (4.3) for storing energy in the form of potential energy of the lifting weight (4.2) by lifting the lifting weight (4.2) using the winch (4.1) and for using the stored potential energy by lowering the lifting weight (4.2) using the winch (4.1), a guidance system for guiding the lifting weight (4.2) when lifting or lowering the lifting weight (4.2), and an electronic unit for controlling the winch motor and for power conversion, wherein the electronic unit and the winch motor of the cable winch (4.1) of each of the lifting modules (4) are connected to the central control and regulation unit (5) via power lines (11) and via data and control lines (12), and wherein the pumped storage plant is designed to convert electrical energy from the power grid (9) into potential energy of the pumped weights (4.2) by means of the central control and regulation unit (5) by individually controlled lifting of the pumped weights (4.2) and to convert the stored potential energy of the pumped weights (4.2) back into electrical energy by individually controlled lowering of the pumped weights (4.2), characterized by the fact that the winch (4.1) of each of the lifting modules (4) a double-ended winch arranged on the floor side of the respective lifting module (4), comprising two of the winch cables (4.3) W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 The winch is a cable winch, wherein the two winch cables (4.3) are wound in parallel, adjacent windings on the double winch, the lifting weight (4.2) of the respective lifting module (4) is suspended from the two winch cables (4.3), which are attached to the lifting weight (4.2) at two spaced-apart suspension points, and the guide system designed for guiding the lifting weight (4.2) of each of the lifting modules (4) comprises the two winch cables (4.3) and, for each of the two winch cables (4.3), a cable guide that deflects the respective winch cable (4.3) on the ceiling side of the lifting module (4), wherein the respective cable guide for deflecting the respective winch cable (4.3) has a first deflection pulley (4.4) in the form of a fixed pulley arranged on the ceiling side of the respective lifting module (4), wherein the winch cable (4.3) has a first cable section between the winch (4.1) and the first deflection pulley (4th).4) and forms a counter-rotating second rope section between the first deflection pulley (4.4) and the suspension point on the lifting weight (4.2).

2. Lifting storage power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the winch ropes (4.3) is a plastic rope.

3. Lifting storage plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the cable guides has a second deflection pulley (4.5) in the form of a loose cable pulley, wherein the second deflection pulley (4.5) is attached to the respective suspension point of the lifting weight (4.2), and wherein the respective winch cable (4.3) forms a third cable section from the suspension point of the lifting weight (4.2) to an attachment point of the winch cable (4.3) arranged on the ceiling side of the lifting module (4).

4. Pumped storage power plant according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second cable sections of the two winch cables (4.3) are guided parallel to each other.

5. Pumped storage power plant according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second cable sections of the two winch cables (4.3) are guided vertically. W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025 6. Lifting storage plant according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lifting storage plant comprises a cooling system with a closed coolant circuit (13) for cooling one or more heat sources and for dissipating the waste heat from the coolant circuit (13) to a heat sink, wherein the heat sources are the winch motors and / or the electronic units of the lifting modules (4), wherein the winch motors and / or the electronic units of the lifting modules (4) each have a cooling unit integrated into the coolant circuit (13) for their cooling, and wherein a central heat exchanger (15) of the cooling system integrated into the coolant circuit (13) forms the heat sink.

7. Pumped storage power plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the central heat exchanger (15) forming the heat sink of the coolant circuit (13) is a district heating transfer station for feeding the waste heat from the cooling system into a district heating network.

8. Pumped storage power plant according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electronic unit of each of the pump modules (4) comprises at least one inverter for converting direct current to alternating current.

9. Pumped storage power plant according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the inverters is designed to receive and provide reactive power, wherein the central control and regulation unit (5) is configured to control the inverters of the pumped modules (4) for reactive power compensation in the power grid (9).

10. Pumped storage power plant according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pumped storage power plant is connected to locally installed renewable electricity generators for feeding regeneratively generated electricity into the pumped storage power plant in addition to the power grid (9), wherein the renewable electricity generators provide electricity optionally in the form of direct current or alternating current. - Six pages of drawings follow - W22067.5 PCT 19.12.2025

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