{"id":81486,"date":"2023-06-29T06:04:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T06:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/\/?p=81486"},"modified":"2023-06-29T06:04:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T06:04:29","slug":"vanadium-on-the-verge-of-battery-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/vanadium-on-the-verge-of-battery-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanadium on the Verge of Battery Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

A world-leading rechargeable vanadium battery has come online in South Australia (SA). <\/span>The Spencer Energy Project in Port Pirie is now home to an <\/span>8-gigawatt vanadium battery<\/b> with twice the duration of its lithium-ion counterparts.\u00a0<\/span>Recharged by an array of solar panels, the battery can last for up to four hours, which is a considerable improvement on Lithium technology which is generally done anywhere from half an hour to just two hours.\u00a0<\/span>The project will purchase power to recharge when the prices are low \u2013 during off-peak demand \u2013 while turning on the switch and providing energy to the SA grid when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hoped that this tactic could even reduce power prices in the state.<\/b><\/p>\n

The Chairman of Yadlamalka Energy, who will operate the Bungama sub-station, Andrew Doman, said it would be \u201cthe first commercial vanadium battery use in the southern hemisphere\u201d. <\/span>Expected to be fully operational by August 2023, the flow battery will store about 10 gigawatts of dispatchable solar power yearly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re on the verge of a vanadium revolution,\u201d Mr Dorman added.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Vanadium-flow batteries are an Australian invention discovered at the University of New South Wales in the 1980s. <\/span>According to Mr Doman, \u201cvanadium is ethically sourced and more widely available in Australia than other critical minerals like copper, nickel and cobalt\u201d. <\/span>The vanadium is converted into an electrolyte holding ions and storing electricity inside the battery.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mining and Energy Generate Over $100 Billion for Australia\u2019s Economy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A recent study by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia has highlighted the stunning contribution of mining and energy companies and contractors to the broader economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Western Australia (WA), these sectors contributed almost $100 billion alone.<\/b><\/p>\n

The actual figure, including contractors and businesses from all states and territories, will likely be much higher. <\/span>While the sector also employed 69,000 full-time people during the 2021\/22 financial year. <\/span>Notably, this includes a period when the Covid pandemic raged throughout Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chambers CEO, Rebecca Tomkinson, said, \u201cIt\u2019s remarkable to see the efforts of an entire industry over a year boiled down to just the raw numbers. <\/span>Whichever way you look at the figures, the contribution that our industry makes to both WA and the nation is enormous.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The CME conducted its analysis with 71 WA resource sector companies.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Here are some key findings at a glance:<\/span><\/p>\n