Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL, OTCQB:ATVVF) continues to add expertise as it looks to build a world-class team to accelerate the uptake of vanadium flow batteries (VFBs) in Australia.
Today, the company announced the additions of Steve Banning as principal advisor and Dr Yifeng Li as product development manager for its 100%-owned subsidiary VSUN Energy Pty Ltd.
The appointments are expected to support AVL’s growing value chain from mining through processing, electrolyte production, battery systems and into energy markets.
AVL aims to accelerate the uptake of VFBs for use in large-scale long-duration energy storage systems.
Key roles to play
“We are really excited to welcome Steve Banning and Yifeng Li who will both play key roles in enabling AVL’s pit-to-battery value creation strategy,” AVL CEO, Graham Arvidson said.
“Steve’s Australian energy market track record will be pivotal in accelerating VSUN Energy’s long-duration energy storage solutions for the burgeoning long-duration market.
“Yifeng brings a proven track record in VFB-based long-duration energy storage systems and optimising the technical aspects of these VFB-based systems to successfully integrate with energy markets and deliver maximum value to customers.
“Ultimately, these two appointments are about growing our capability within VSUN Energy to deliver outsized value to existing and future customers within Australian energy markets. With these two appointments, we have world-leading expertise at every point in our value chain, from mine to battery.
“We believe that the strength of our team is now unparalleled globally. Coupled with our Tier 1 vanadium asset in Western Australia, our team will continue to be the source of enduring competitive advantage for AVL, as we grow our vertically integrated business model.”
25 years of market experience
Banning has a strong understanding of energy markets across Australia, having worked in advisory and executive roles for a variety of energy-focused companies.
His key career highlights include overseeing the construction and operation of gas pipelines as managing director of Epic Energy Ltd, connecting Queensland to the southern gas markets for the first time.
He also served as managing director of the engineering service company LogiCamms and has worked on capital-intensive projects worth over A$1 billion.
A graduate of Nottingham Trent University in the UK, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology, he is currently a non-executive director of Solstice Energy Holdings Pty Ltd.
Global energy experience
Dr Li most recently worked for global energy company Voith Group in Germany, focusing on the integration of VFB modules into large-scale systems, performance improvement and cost reduction of VFBs, and the standardisation of vanadium electrolyte.
His return to Australia provides VSUN Energy with the valuable opportunity to secure his skills, as the company develops VFB projects for organisations such as Western Australian utility, Horizon Power.
Dr Li graduated from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering. His doctoral thesis project focused on process modelling, optimisation, and control for VFB systems.