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.’
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.
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.
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.
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.
The chief executive of Australian Vanadium says the turning point towards more rapid take-up of batteries that use vanadium as an electrolyte is already here as he eyes a $217 million merger with Technology Metals Australia.
The two companies have agreed an all-shares merger to better exploit their jointly owned high-purity vanadium – a raw material for long duration storage batteries – resource near Meekatharra in WA’s mid-West.
It will be designed to produce up to 33 MWh per year of vanadium flow battery high purity electrolyte.
It also said it appointed Simon Rough, an experienced operations professional, to safely manage construction. He will see the plant into production.
His extensive experience in vanadium processing and sulphuric acid production makes him “a perfect fit” to lead the team to successful production of high-quality electrolyte, the company said in a statement.
Rough has safely led teams in hydro and pyrometallurgical operations, vanadium processing and sulphuric acid production, AVL said.
The company holds the exclusive licence of US Vanadium’s process technology for manufacturing vanadium electrolyte for Australia and New Zealand.
Big batteries across Australia could one day be powered by a little-known element called vanadium and manufactured onshore, an industry leader says. The silvery-grey metal is the latest “pit to grid” sensation for electricity system operators, although most people have never heard of it.
“Seven years ago lithium was in the same spot,” AustralianVanadium CEO Graham Arvidson believes that vanadium has the potential to be the next big thing in energy storage. Australia is home to almost one-third (or 31 per cent) of the world’s vanadium, according to Geoscience Australia, but none of it is mined.
Horizon Power, Western Australia’s regional power supplier, has revealed plans to deploy a 78 kW/220 kWh vanadium flow battery.
Horizon Power, a utility owned by the Western Australia government, has signed an agreement with Perth-based energy storage company VSUN Energy for the purchase of a vanadium flow battery (VFB). It will be installed at Kununurra as part of a long-duration energy storage pilot program.
Horizon Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Unwin said the pilot program will support the organization’s focus on solving the technical challenges associated with establishing long-duration energy storage solutions in harsh conditions.
