Hilco is seeking offers to acquire the intellectual property assets of Gravitricity Limited (In Liquidation) (“Gravitricity” or the “Company”) on behalf of the Joint Liquidators of the Company, Graham Smith and Callum Carmichael of FRP Advisory Trading Limited.
Founded in 2011, Gravitricity operated as a specialist energy-storage technology company focused on the development of long-duration underground storage solutions for electricity and hydrogen, supporting the energy transition, whilst offering significant value in rapidly growing markets. The Company was established by experienced engineers and marine-energy pioneers to address structural gaps in the energy-transition landscape that conventional battery technologies struggle to serve.
The Company developed two complementary technology platforms: GraviStore, a gravity-based electricity storage system designed for deployment in deep shafts or repurposed mine infrastructure, and H2FlexiStore, a modular underground hydrogen-storage concept intended to provide flexible, localised storage close to demand centres. Together, the Company’s technologies sought to support grid resilience, renewable integration and industrial decarbonisation through long-life, mechanically robust storage solutions.
GraviStore stores energy by lifting very heavy weights within vertical shafts using electrical power and releases that energy by lowering the weights to drive generators. The system is designed to deliver rapid response times, long operational lifespans and minimal degradation, making it well suited to grid-balancing, frequency response and resilience applications. In 2021, Gravitricity successfully built and operated a grid-connected demonstrator at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh, validating key aspects of the technology and providing a tangible proof-of-concept for the underlying engineering approach.
In parallel, the Company developed H2FlexiStore to address emerging challenges around hydrogen storage. Unlike conventional large-scale salt-cavern solutions, H2FlexiStore was conceived as a lined-shaft system capable of storing hydrogen at intermediate scale and closer to production and offtake sites. The technology was positioned to support green-hydrogen projects where geology, location or time constraints limit access to traditional storage options and attracted interest from industrial and infrastructure stakeholders exploring decentralised hydrogen ecosystems.
Over more than a decade of development, Gravitricity invested significantly in engineering design, system architecture, and supporting know-how, supported by grant funding, industry collaborations and demonstrator programmes. The Company engaged with a range of strategic and industrial counterparties, particularly in the mining, energy-infrastructure and heavy-industry sectors, where existing underground assets and long-life storage requirements align closely with Gravitricity’s technical proposition.
This acquisition represents an opportunity to secure a developed portfolio of energy-storage intellectual property, including granted patents, patent applications, technical documentation such as 3D CAD drawings and engineering know-how, aligned to long-duration electricity storage and underground hydrogen storage. Acquiring the assets provides a foundation for a purchaser to advance site-specific projects, re-engage with strategic industrial partners, or integrate Gravitricity’s technologies into broader energy-transition, mining-repurposing or hydrogen-infrastructure strategies.
Gravitricity has established itself as a highly specialised and technically credible player in the long-duration energy storage and energy-transition space.
The Gravitricity brand is built around resilience, longevity and practical innovation, presenting a credible alternative to short-lived, chemistry-based energy storage solutions. By emphasising re-use, permanence and alignment with existing industrial landscapes, Gravitricity developed a distinctive identity that resonated with infrastructure developers, mining groups and energy stakeholders seeking credible, long-term solutions aligned with net-zero ambitions.
The brand’s credibility has been reinforced through successful delivery of a grid-connected gravity-storage demonstrator in Edinburgh, extensive technical disclosure, and engagement with major industrial and mining stakeholders exploring mine repurposing, grid resilience and renewable integration. Gravitricity has also benefited from visibility across industry forums, innovation programmes and grant-funded initiatives, helping to position the Company as a thought leader in mechanical and underground energy storage.
In addition, the GraviStore and H2FlexiStore technology names are closely linked to the Gravitricity brand and clearly articulate the functional value proposition of the underlying technologies. These sub-brands support straightforward communication with industrial and infrastructure stakeholders and provide a platform for continued commercial development or re-branding under new ownership.
For an acquirer, the Gravitricity brand offers a recognised and credible identity within a niche but growing segment of the energy-transition market.
The Company holds a UK registered trade mark protecting the “Gravitricity” brand name.
Full details on the Company’s trade mark are available via a virtual data room.
Gravitricity holds a portfolio of patents focused on gravity-based energy storage systems, covering the core concepts, mechanical configurations and operating methods underpinning its proprietary long-duration storage approach.
The Company’s patents centre on the use of mass-lift and controlled gravitational discharge to store and release energy, with filings addressing system architecture, shaft-based deployment models, energy conversion mechanisms and operational control. Collectively, the portfolio protects Gravitricity’s distinctive approach to long-life, low-degradation energy storage.
The patents reflect innovations developed by the Company’s founding engineering team and support the commercial differentiation of the Gravitricity concept relative to electrochemical storage technologies, reinforcing its positioning as an infrastructure-grade solution.
Full details on the Company’s patents are available via a virtual data room.
Gravitricity’s proprietary software was developed to support the design, modelling, operation and optimisation of its gravity-based energy storage systems.
The Company developed internal software tools and control logic to model system performance, manage energy charge and discharge cycles, and support the safe and efficient operation of gravity storage installations. The software elements underpin the translation of mechanical energy storage concepts into deployable, controllable infrastructure assets, enabling system optimisation, operational repeatability and performance forecasting over long asset lifetimes, providing a purchaser with the digital foundation required to progress the technology through licensing, redevelopment or direct deployment.
Gravitricity has developed a substantial body of proprietary organisational know-how embodied in its engineering designs, technical drawings and system architecture materials.
The Company’s records include a comprehensive suite of detailed 3D CAD models and associated engineering drawings covering the core components, assemblies and system configurations underpinning Gravitricity’s solutions, all of which are available to acquire.
The Company holds the primary gravitricity.com domain name, which is available to acquire.
The Company likely owns the copyright in the website content hosted at its domain, presenting its technology, demonstrator projects, commercial vision and positioning within the long-duration energy storage and energy-transition space.
Rights in social media accounts are also available to acquire across various platforms, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
Full details on the Company’s social media accounts are available via a virtual data room.
The Company also holds data on previous and prospective customers and strategic partners, including named points of contact and contact details.
All expressions of interest and bids are to be directed to Hilco in writing. A Bid Submission Form is available on request. Please contact Hilco to gain access to a virtual data room for further information on signing a confidentiality agreement.
Hilco is acting as exclusive agent to the Company and its Joint Liquidators in connection with the proposed sale of some or all of the Company’s assets. The Joint Liquidators act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.
All sales are made strictly on an “as is, where is” basis. Only such right, title and interest (if any) as the Company may have in the assets will be transferred to a purchaser. No warranties, guarantees, or representations (express or implied) are provided by the Company, its Joint Liquidators, or Hilco in respect of the assets or any information supplied. All parties must rely on their own enquiries and due diligence. Any information provided is for convenience only and has not been independently verified.
All offers are subject to the addition of VAT at the prevailing rate, where applicable. A non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the agreed purchase price must be paid by the successful purchaser within 48 hours of offer acceptance. Payment of the deposit grants the purchaser the exclusive right to proceed with the acquisition of the relevant assets for a limited period and on the terms agreed. A Buyer’s Premium of 10% of the final purchase price is payable by the successful purchaser in addition to the agreed purchase price, is non-negotiable and is payable at the same time and in the same manner as the purchase price and forms a condition of sale.
Legal completion must occur within five (5) business days of offer acceptance, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and its Joint Liquidators.
