Vertical Pumped Hydro Would Bring Grid Storage Into Cities
Adam Semel argues that cities should treat energy storage as civic infrastructure rather than a remote grid asset. His proposed Gravity Bank system would package pumped-hydro storage into towers that, he says, could store electricity, cool data centers and industrial facilities, and hold water reserves near urban demand. The case rests on the view that rising power needs require durable, locally integrated systems built to manage electricity, heat and water over generations.
The Aspen Institute·Aug 20, 2026·5 min read
