Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has announced that its subsidiary VSUN Energy Pty Ltd has signed an agreement with Horizon Power to purchase, install, and commission vanadium flow battery (VFB) in Kununurra, Western Australia.
The 220kWh battery, which can deliver up to 78kW of power, will be supplied by Invinity Energy Systems plc, a global VFB manufacturer.
The deployment of long-duration energy storage in the form of VFBs could assist Horizon Power in accelerating the decarbonisation of its 2.3 million square kilometre energy network. Horizon Power’s long-duration energy storage project will use the VFB to better understand how this technology can deliver lengthy periods of 100% renewable energy supply in regional and remote electricity networks across Western Australia.
“This is the first contracted VFB project for an Australian energy utility. VSUN Energy has been actively pursuing opportunities for VFB deployments and is seeing an increased interest from all energy sectors for this effective energy storage technology which uses vanadium at its core. Horizon Power has chosen to be one of the early movers in Australia in support of a technology game changer for the many microgrids in the country. Horizon Power’s support of the VFB technology will also assist AVL and VSUN Energy’s planned vertical integration “pit to battery” strategy. Future VFB projects in Australia will not only be deployed locally, but have significant local content, including AVL’s vanadium electrolyte from its plant which is currently under construction in Wangara, Western Australia,” AVL Chief Executive Officer Graham Arvidson said.
Horizon Power CEO Stephanie Unwin stated that the pilot would help the company focus on tackling the crucial technical challenge of long-duration storage and performance in severe conditions, providing a pathway to meeting its decarbonisation targets.
“Long duration energy storage provides backup power during times of peak demand or when the power supply is interrupted, storing high volumes of excess energy when demand is low and the ability to shift energy storage into the night. It can also minimise the need for costly fossil fuel generation and grid infrastructure upgrades. The VFB is specifically designed to deliver large amounts of energy over a long period of time and is temperature resilient – which is critical for our unique regional and remote networks,” Unwin said.
“This is an exciting trial which will allow us to increase our understanding of the technology in a regional energy system and its ability to provide long periods of 100% renewable energy,” he added.
Infinity Energy Systems Chief Commercial Officer Matt Harper commented, “Due to their durability, safety and reliability, vanadium flow batteries have a vital role to play in reducing the use of fossil fuels in power generation, particularly in remote communities. Invinity is pleased to be supplying this proven and commercialised technology, that has its roots in Australia, for VSUN Energy and Horizon Power who are spearheading the use of alternative-to-lithium batteries in an important market for Invinity.”
The contract between Horizon Power and VSUN Energy provides for termination of the agreement if completion is not reached by 28 March 2024, subject to mutually agreed-upon extensions of time. According to AVL, the agreement has standard termination terms for agreements of this nature.
Site planning and development will now begin, with the Invinity Energy Systems VFB expected to arrive and be installed early next year.
