Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Building a Sustainable Future – Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Demand is growing for renewable energy across the world. As our markets shift towards wind, solar and geothermal production, the need for safe and reliable energy storage is powering significant growth in Australian vanadium mining.
The unique properties of vanadium mean that it will play a critical role in renewable energy storage. This is reflected by strong growth in the market, with vanadium consumption for battery production expanding 42% between 2021 and 2022.
Increases in vanadium consumption are largely due to Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB), an energy storage solution that provides a stable, reliable and cost-effective alternative to lithium batteries.
This market expansion is excellent news for the new energy economy. It also presents opportunities in the mining, research and manufacture of vanadium batteries. With vanadium earning a Critical Minerals classification from the Australian Government, the local industry is forecast to become a major player on the global market, and Critical Minerals Group is well-positioned to make the most of the shift.
The Future of Energy with Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Vanadium redox flow batteries are set to disrupt the energy storage and renewable power industry. As the technology evolves and becomes more affordable, it is expected to far outperform lithium alternatives, especially in grid-based applications.
Scalability
Vanadium redox flow batteries can be easily scaled by increasing the size of the electrolyte tanks or installing additional modules, making them suitable for small and large grid applications.
Low Degradation
The vanadium electrolyte that powers VRFB systems does not degrade during charge and discharge cycles. VRFBs have been measured to retain 100% of their capacity over 14,000 cycles.
Lifespan
With no electrolyte degradation and simple mechanical parts, VRFBs can deliver a lifespan of 25 years or more. This far outperforms the 10-year life expectancy of lithium battery technology.
Energy & Power Density
VRFBs offer relatively high power density compared to lithium, and the scalability of these systems allows them to be configured to deliver the energy to power ratio required by any application.
Safety
VRFB systems are inherently safer than lithium, with the electrolyte being stored separately from the cell. Electrolytes are not flammable and highly stable, reducing reactivity during idle periods.
Sustainability
The vanadium electrolyte in VRFB systems can easily be recycled and reused. This minimises the environmental impact and reduces the long-term operating cost of replacing vanadium solution.
Price
Current estimates show that Li-ion battery systems cost $350-$400 per kWh. VRFB systems are already priced at just $500 per kWh, with plenty of room for costs to fall as production volumes increase.
Source: fig.2: https://www.researchgate.net/
How Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries Work
Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) are a type of flow battery consisting of a power cell in which two electrolytes are separated by a thin membrane. These half-cells are connected by a carbon-based electrode, typically made of carbon felt, carbon cloth or carbon nanotubes.
Both electrolytes in VRFBs are vanadium-based. These are commonly produced by dissolving vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) in sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This produces four distinct electrolytes, each with a positive valence that interact to create a charge within the battery.
As VRFBs are charged, current flows from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. This process is reversed during discharge, with electrons flowing through a Power Conversion System that distributes DC power to downstream current converters.
The process of transferring electrons from one half-cell to the other means that vanadium electrolytes are highly stable and do not degrade over time. This increases the lifespan and sustainability of the system, making them ideal for grid-connected applications where there are no limits to the volume of aqueous electrolyte.
How Our Vanadium Resources Are Building the Future
Critical Minerals Group plays a core role in the manufacture of vanadium redox flow batteries. From our sites across Australia, we extract vanadium pentoxide, which is vital to the success of VRFB technology.
Although vanadium is an abundant resource, early VRFB experiments were hindered by the availability of vanadium. The advent of vanadium pentoxide as a starting material not only allowed for the technology to advance quickly, it greatly improved our ability to extract and process vanadium that is suitable for the application.
In modern VRFB systems, the majority of the manufacturing lies in the production of vanadium-based electrolytes. Manufacturers produce these electrolytes by dissolving vanadium pentoxide in sulfuric acid at a concentration of 1.5M-2M in 3M sulfuric acid. This solution can then be added to the completed VRFB system, which otherwise consists of simple components that can be manufactured almost anywhere in the world.
The History of Vanadium Batteries and the New Energy Economy
The shift towards a new energy economy is demanding significant changes in power generation and storage. While many technologies are under investigation, VRFB systems are a leading contender due to their affordability, scalability and sustainability.
The chemistry involved in VRFBs is not a new concept. The earliest vanadium batteries date back to a patent in the 1930s, but the technology became a reality during the 70s and 80s thanks to research by the University of New South Wales. These experiments pioneered the use of vanadium pentoxide as a starting material, a development which made the technology viable for large-scale deployment.
Following that success, research into VRFBs continued throughout the 90s and early 2000s, with manufacturers refining the vanadium solutions to provide greater energy potential and efficiency. In modern times, the forefront of VRFBs once again returns to Australia, where vanadium extraction has rapidly become a large industry that is attracting interest from the global energy market.
Invest in the Future with Critical Minerals Group
Global demand for renewable energy storage is a top priority as we shift towards an electrified future. Vanadium redox flow batteries represent a major leap forward for the industry, and they provide a sustainable solution that will make our renewable energy market possible.
As one of Australia’s leading vanadium mining companies, Critical Minerals Group is uniquely positioned to meet this new economy mineral demand.
With active mine sites in Australia, and strong backing from Federal and State Governments, CMG is delivering the minerals we need for the future. Alongside our commitment to community, sustainability and traceability, our vanadium mining resources allow us to support the world as it moves to decarbonisation, and we are excited to be leading the way towards an electrified future.