Utility Pole Battery Storage Vertical Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban infrastructure, such as utility poles, is underutilized and lacks efficient energy storage solutions, limiting the ability to augment local electricity grids and provide backup power during outages.
Innovation Solution
Converting existing utility poles into battery storage poles by housing vertically stacked rechargeable batteries, which can be connected to the local grid or renewable sources for charging, allowing for energy storage and distribution without increasing infrastructure density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing utility poles are upgraded to incorporate power storage, then energy storage capacity in urban areas is improved, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The utility pole is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional electrical infrastructure support and new energy storage functions. The battery system integrates with existing pole structures, allowing the same infrastructure to serve both conventional power distribution and energy storage purposes, thereby improving energy capacity without proportionally increasing overall infrastructure complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is nested within the existing utility pole structure. The battery enclosure integrates with the pole's internal space, and the battery assembly fits within the pole's dimensional envelope. This nesting approach allows energy storage components to be housed within already-deployed infrastructure, adding functionality without requiring separate dedicated space or structures
2Quantity of substance
If vertically stacked batteries are housed in utility poles, then energy density per pole is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into modular battery packs that can be individually handled and installed. Each pack is a self-contained unit with standardized dimensions and mounting interfaces, allowing for simplified installation and replacement. The vertical stacking arrangement segments the total energy capacity into discrete, manageable modules that can be installed sequentially within the pole structure
Solution Approach 2:
The battery packs are designed with specific dimensional parameters optimized for vertical stacking within the pole's cross-sectional area. By changing the orientation and arrangement parameters of the battery packs (vertical rather than horizontal placement), the system maximizes energy density within the constrained pole volume while maintaining feasible installation procedures
3Quantity of substance
If battery storage poles are deployed in public right-of-way, then energy availability to users is improved, but space utilization constraints worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The battery storage system transitions from horizontal ground-level installation to vertical three-dimensional utilization within the utility pole. By exploiting the vertical dimension and the pole's height, the system achieves significant energy storage capacity (e.g., 50 kWh per pole) without occupying additional horizontal right-of-way space. Multiple battery packs are stacked vertically to maximize the use of available vertical space within the pole's structural envelope
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables significant energy storage near urban users, supports continuous operation of critical infrastructure during outages, and helps balance grid loads by storing energy during low demand and releasing it during high demand periods, reducing strain on the grid.
Implementation Method 1
Converting existing utility poles into battery storage poles by housing vertically stacked rechargeable batteries, which can be connected to the local grid or renewable sources for charging
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to utility poles that house a vertical stack of batteries to store energy. The utility pole in one configuration is a small cell pole. In one arrangement, the small cell pole stores sufficient energy to operate for several day during a power failure. In a further arrangement, a plurality of battery storage poles operate as a source and/or sink for a local electricity grid to balance the operation of the grid.