Horizon starts flow battery pilot to test viability in extreme conditions and remote grids
Renew Economy
Horizon Power has officially started the 12-month pilot of a long duration vanadium flow battery in Kununurra, to prove whether or not the technology will stand up to the hot, arid conditions.
The 78 kW / 220 kWh vanadium flow battery was lifted into place on 1 October and the pilot was timed to start with a ribbon cutting event by Western Australia energy minister Reece Whitby.
The installation has been a long time coming: Horizon Power bought the battery in mid-2023 from VSUN [Energy], a division of Vanadium Australia, and it had to go through a long period of factory testing in Perth before the journey north.
Horizon powers up vanadium battery tech trial in Kununurra
pv magazine
Western Australia’s state-owned regional energy provider Horizon Power has officially launched the trial of a vanadium flow battery in the state’s north as it investigates how to integrate long-duration energy storage into its network, microgrids, and other off-grid power systems.
Horizon Power Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Unwin said this is the first time vanadium flow technology has been tested in WA and if successful, it will be a real game changer for clean and reliable energy for regional and remote communities.
“Kununurra, with its hot and humid climate, is a challenging environment for battery energy storage,” she said. “Piloting the vanadium flow battery in these extreme conditions will help us to learn more about its capabilities and the potential for it to be effectively integrated into our network, much of which is subject to extreme temperatures.”
The 220 kWh battery has been sourced from United Kingdom-based manufacturer Invinity Energy Systems but supplied by Perth-headquartered company VSUN Energy, a subsidiary of Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL), which has handled the installation and commissioning.
WA Gov pilots new long-duration battery
Energy Magazine
Kununurra is home to a new vanadium flow battery, with the Western Australian Government trialling the technology in the unique Kimberley conditions.
The battery has a 78KW capacity and 220KWh of storage, which the Western Australian Government said it well suited to the Kimberley as it requires storage solutions to be temperature resilient and capable of delivering energy over a long period of time.
The pilot is also expected to provide Horizon Power with lessons on how to integrate long-duration energy storage into its network, microgrids, and other off-grid power systems.
The Western Australian Government said battery storage already plays a critical role in the state’s energy mix, with large-scale batteries in Kwinana and Collie absorbing excess rooftop solar power during the day and redistributing it at night when demand for energy is greater.
VSUN Energy, a subsidiary of Australian Vanadium, has supplied the vanadium flow battery, and will collaborate with Horizon Power on system support testing over the next 12 months.
Western Australian Energy Minister, Reece Whitby, said the State Government’s continued investment in battery storage means households throughout Western Australia can continue to reap the benefits of rooftop solar.
Vanadium redux: WA project leads VFB charge
Investing News Network
AVL CEO, Graham Arvidson, discusses the unique opportunity Australia has to build a world-class vanadium battery storage and circular value chain on the back of a 50-year resource;
- The long-term demand for vanadium and price links to steel are transcended by the metal’s use in long-duration energy storage linked to renewable power and a multitude of industrial and societal use cases
- Shaw and Partners says battery energy system storage is the fastest growing battery demand market in the US as that market matures and duration increases;
- Vanadium’s use in batteries has grown from 1% of the market two years ago to more than 10% now;
Net zero on the Horizon: piloting innovative LDES solutions
Utility Magazine
LDES (Long-duration energy storage) will play a critical role in supporting Western Australia’s journey to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The state’s regional energy provider, Horizon Power, is embracing the latest technology, with innovative LDES trials to support the state’s acceleration to a cleaner, greener future.
‘The latest announcement follows Horizon Power’s purchase in August 2023 of a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery for a long-duration energy storage pilot in Kununurra, in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
The 78kW/220kWh battery, from Invinity, represents a milestone in Horizon Power’s quest to test, understand and harness the capabilities of providing long periods of 100 per cent renewable energy in Western Australia.’
Australian Vanadium wraps government-funded work and receives final payment for vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility
Proactive Investors
The grant provided AVL with matched funding for initiatives including:
- design and construction of AVL’s commercial vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility to support the rollout of vanadium flow batteries in Australia;
- development of a high-purity processing flowsheet for a circuit to produce chemical and master-alloy grade vanadium pentoxide as part of the Australian Vanadium Project; and
- design and manufacture of a prototype residential vanadium flow battery and stand-alone power system for the Australian energy market.
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AVL welcomes first vanadium electrolyte
Australian Mining
Australian Vanadium (AVL) has produced its first high purity vanadium electrolyte, which is a key component of vanadium flow batteries. Independent testing demonstrated that the vanadium electrolyte complied with typical specifications required by vanadium flow battery manufacturers.
Alongside producing first vanadium electrolyte, AVL has also successfully commissioned its vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility that completed construction in December.
How do Vanadium batteries work and are they better for the environment? Graham Arvidson explains
6PR Perth
How do Vanadium batteries work and are they better for the environment? Graham Arvidson explains.
VSUN Energy completes first vanadium flow battery
Au Manufacturing
VSUN Energy has completed the manufacture of its first vanadium flow battery (VFB, pictured) at its Western Australian facility with factory testing being undertaken in Q1, 2024.
The company, owned by vanadium producer Australian Vanadium, said the prototype residential battery has 5kWH of power and 15kWh storage capacity and would then be installed in a home for further testing.
Australian Vanadium completes flow battery electrolyte factory in Western Australia
Energy Storage News
Construction has been completed at a factory making electrolyte for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) energy storage systems in Western Australia.
Vanadium resources company Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) announced this morning (15 December) that it has finished work on the facility in a northern suburb of the Western Australian capital, Perth.
The factory will have an annual production capacity for 33MWh of electrolyte.