Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has announced the completion of construction of its vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility in Perth’s northern suburbs.
Related article: Australia’s first commercial-scale vanadium battery facility
The facility, constructed by WA-based engineering company Primero Group, has been designed to produce up to 33MWh per year of high purity electrolyte for vanadium flow batteries (VFBs).
The facility utilises proven electrolyte manufacturing technology licensed from US Vanadium LLC (USV) exclusively to AVL in Australia and New Zealand. USV will assist with commissioning of the facility, which is anticipated to be completed early in 2024.
The vanadium electrolyte produced by the facility will initially be employed in the VFB projects being developed by AVL’s wholly owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy Pty Ltd, and will allow AVL to qualify its product with key global VFB manufacturers.
Demand for vanadium electrolyte within the region is expected to grow rapidly over the coming years. Vanadium pentoxide for electrolyte manufacture will initially be sourced from USV, prior to supply being available from the company’s Australian Vanadium Project in Western Australia. The experience gained from the construction of the facility is anticipated to be of great use in the construction of the Australian Vanadium Project.
AVL CEO Graham Arvidson said, “We are pleased to have been able to successfully and safely execute another segment of our ‘pit to battery’ strategy through the construction of Western Australia’s first vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility.
Related article: Horizon Power purchases vanadium flow battery
“We are grateful to the teams at Primero and USV for their contributions in delivering a facility that is first of its kind for Western Australia. Production of AVL’s first vanadium electrolyte will position the Company to become a trusted supplier for battery projects in Australia and the wider region.”
