Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
I read an interview with FM at Mining Weekly, https://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa-inc-must-act-now-to-take-ownership-of-battery-metals-value-chain-2020-06-26
He states: "We expect them to go to tender anytime now and that project alone is massive. We know it’s going to be multiple technologies. That’s well and good for us. We think that vanadium flow batteries have a story to tell and certainly we hope they can get a share of that programme."
When energy storage gains momentum and the strategy of Bushveld proofs fruitful, the SP will follow. On IEX, one of the bigger stock-fora in The Netherlands, a dedicated Bushveld-thread was started just today. For me the low SP means an opportunity to add up.
I am not the expert to assess this innovation but it sounds awsome. No stock, though investors are invited.
"The company has completed a proof of concept, and is ready to begin building its commercial prototype once its labs reopen after COVID shutdown. A low-powered commercial version is expected to hit the market in less than two years, and the high powered version is projected for five years' time. NDB says it's well ahead of its competition with patents pending on its technology and manufacturing processes."
You're referring to the RBAR-document, I assume. There Li is stated as the preferred solution (p.ix): "The technology Assessed in this Report both present Negative and Positive aspects, and none of them are fatally flawed form an Environmental Perspective, however Technology Alternative 1 (=Li) is Preferred at this stage mainly based on the level of information that currently available on the type of technology.'"
How big would a VRFB-unit be? Will it be within the limits of 500m3 for a 20 MWh-installation?
Great to see these mayor projects. I was just reading this article: https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/battery-metals-investing/vanadium-investing/lithium-ion-world-vanadium-catching/
Citation from the article: "If vanadium-flow batteries are set to become a major player in the energy storage space, raw material self-sufficiency will be critical, Benchmark’s Moores said. “At least a third of the cost of a vanadium-flow battery is the raw material vanadium pentoxide, which makes up the liquid electrolyte.”
As for the cost and the vanadium share of it. With todays prices lower than 2018 the commercial viability of the VFRB is clear. With Bushveld being self-sufficient. From 3000tpa now to 8900tpa in a couple of years it it perfectly positioned.
If the VRFB goes flying - and there's almost daily news to that - there will an effect on the Vanadium price. The Chinese have already made their choice for VRFB's and are now net importer, though this might be seasonal to some degree. I 'arrived' at Bushveld when researching AMG, another stock I highly value. AMG's CEO Heinz Schimmelbusch is quite a character. Like Fortune Mojapelo he has a strong opinion. Different companies, different strategies but with a similar set of beliefs and I think a strong case.