Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL, OTCQB:ATVVF) has now completed factory acceptance testing of a vanadium flow battery (VFB), using AVL’s vanadium electrolyte, to be installed at a Horizon Power site in Kununurra, Western Australia.
The 220kWh VFB, which can deliver up to 78kW of power, was purchased by Western Australia’s regional energy provider, Horizon Power, for a long duration energy storage project.
The battery contains vanadium electrolyte manufactured by AVL at its electrolyte manufacturing facility in Perth.
This marks the first instance of AVL’s vanadium electrolyte being used in an operational vanadium flow battery. It is also the first time AVL’s electrolyte has been approved for use by a leading vanadium flow battery manufacturer, Invinity Energy Systems, as it meets stringent quality standards for use in this battery.
“A true testament to our vertical integration strategy”
Australian Vanadium CEO Graham Arvidson said: “We are pleased to report that the VFB purchased by Horizon Power has now completed the FAT process and is operating successfully. Over the past months the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy, has collaborated closely with Horizon Power to successfully integrate its preferred hardware with the battery.
“This is also a significant milestone for AVL, as it marks the first use of vanadium electrolyte produced at our Perth facility in a functioning battery. This is a true testament to our vertical integration strategy, with the ultimate goal of using vanadium oxides processed from the Australian Vanadium Project in our vanadium electrolyte.
“We are particularly pleased that leading vanadium flow battery manufacturer Invinity has approved our electrolyte for use in the battery and confirmed that our electrolyte meets its stringent standards. We look forward to the successful commissioning and operation of the battery as part of Horizon’s project in regional Western Australia.”
With the completion of the factory acceptance testing, the VSUN Energy team welcomed staff from Horizon Power to view
The use of long duration energy storage, in the form of vanadium flow batteries, could assist Horizon Power to accelerate the decarbonisation of its 140 energy networks spread throughout a service area covering 2.3 million square kilometres.
These batteries have potential to address the significant demand for long duration energy storage, which provides support to electricity grids increasingly powered by variable renewable energy such as solar and wind.
AVL says that the battery is now being transported to Horizon Power’s site in Kununurra, where it will be installed and undertake site acceptance testing.