[Ferro-Alloys.com] Technology Metals Australia Ltd (ASX:TMT) will be a key investor in a WA-based research institute as it works to enhance the performance of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs).

The government-backed Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) caught the critical mineral company’s eye, setting off an electrolyte research program that is poised to run for three years.

Under the collaboration, TMT will be a key investor and supply product from its Murchison Technology Metals Project (MTMP) as feedstock for vanadium electrolyte research.

In turn, the ASX-lister’s vanadium electrolyte subsidiary, vLYTE, will leverage off the project’s findings, adding more value to its own mineral resources.

To develop a cost-competitive, high-quality product

So why do opportunities like this matter? According to TMT managing director Ian Prentice, critical minerals like vanadium and titanium are pivotal to the green energy revolution.

“Society needs longer duration energy storage to reach net-zero and TMT is committed to vanadium redox flow batteries as a solution,” Prentice explained.

“Vanadium electrolyte is a key component of a VRFB and as a potential downstream product of the MTMP, knowledge gained through this project will enable TMT to produce a cost-competitive, high-quality product for customers.

“TMT’s technical team is excited to work together with the FBICRC team to advance the technology and I would like to thank the FBICRC for creating such an opportunity.”

All eyes on VRFBs

Vanadium redox flow batteries are considered one of the most promising large-scale, stationary energy storage systems.

That’s thanks to their robustness to operating conditions, their safety, the fact that its power and energy ratings are independent of each other and long discharge and storage times.

The VRFB electrolyte is 100% recyclable, meaning it can be reused in another battery system or converted to useful vanadium compounds.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) compared the VRFB with other storage technologies and found it was able to provide medium-duration storage without geographic restrictions, high cycling storage without the significant cycling degradation of lithium batteries, and a better safety profile.

FBICRC CEO Shannon O’Rouke says the importance of developing this kind of battery technology cannot be understated.

“By 2050, in a net-zero scenario, 70% of all renewable spend will be on batteries,” she explained.

“Vanadium batteries are compact, durable, and infinitely recyclable, making them excellent for long-duration storage.

“The technology was invented in Australia, and we’re pleased to be looking at ways to lower costs and improve quality.

“We’re very pleased to have TMT onboard in this co-operative project and we are looking forward to helping TMT add more value to their mineral resources.”

The rundown

Together with TMT, the FBICRC will look at ways it can optimise electrolyte performance in vanadium redox flow batteries.

The study will involve experimenting with additives and stabilising agents and measure the effect of impurities to ultimately determine the optimal concentrations for VRFB electrolyte.

Much of the work will be completed at the engineering and energy department laboratories at Murdoch University in Western Australia.

As a major participant, TMT will put forward a cash contribution, access to its technical team and provide material like magnetite concentrate and vanadium pentoxide from its wholly-owned Murchison Technology Metals Project.

• [Editor:tianyawei]