REMINDER: Our user survey closes on Friday, please submit your responses here.
Https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikhailnikomarov_flowbattery-ldes-bess-activity-7085278047905488896--YUP
Energy density may not be a disadvantage of flow batteries after all, according to an insightful analysis from the University of Colorado called "Beyond energy density: flow battery design driven by safety and location."
First, the authors look at existing large lithium (USA) and VRFB installations (China) and note that they are similar in how much land they take up. This is in part because lithium batteries have safety risks that require greater spacing in installation. Furthermore, lithium battery modules are rarely stacked, but when flow batteries are installed as bespoke rather than containerized designs, the tanks that hold electrolyte need not have a size limit.
Second, flow batteries have spatial flexibility when using vertical tanks from 8 to 20m high. These tanks common in bulk chemicals industries. In such configurations, flow batteries can actually have substantially smaller land footprints than lithium batteries.
Third, the combined implications of these aspects are quite significant for some use cases, such as ESS co-located with substations or in urban centers where land is limited and expensive. Furthermore, these are also locations where lithium BESS are finding increasing local and permitting opposition due to fire safety risks.
Of course, the downside to this design is a movement away from containerized and plug and play BESS, which are beneficial in reducing costs of production, delivery and installation. These have been design trends in most BESS technologies the past few years. Ideally, there would be a combination of modularity (and replicability) of flow battery configuration with the vertical potential offered by larger tanks.
#flowbattery #LDES #BESS #ESS #VRFB #energystorage #batteries
https://lnkd.in/dQsr2gbF
Participants aware of the beneficiation of SA mining the vanadium & manufacturing the electrolyte for VRFBs.
Q&A regarding the Cellcube BESS @ Vametco (Imminent)
https://youtu.be/uPIgOPIw7Ro?t=4479
Mining/Industry Sector BESS pipeline (Tsunami)
https://youtu.be/uPIgOPIw7Ro?t=5022
Full Webinar Recording
https://www.iisd.org/events/potential-energy-role-grid-batteries-tackling-south-africas-electricity-crisis
New IISD report “Watts In Store” :
https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/south-africa-watts-in-store-part-1
https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/south-africa-watts-in-store-part-1.pdf
In addition to the aforementioned 300MW/1200MWh BESS.
https://m.bjx.com.cn/mnews/20230706/1317455.shtml
More VRFB projects contracts signed & investment confirmed in China last week.
100MW/400MWh
https://m.bjx.com.cn/mnews/20230704/1316814.shtml
Polaris Energy Storage Network learned that on 3 July, Neijiang City, Sichuan Province and SPIC Sichuan Electric Power Co., Ltd. signed a contract, and the province's first 100MW/400MWh vanadium redox flow battery energy storage demonstration power station project will be settled in Neijiang Economic Development Zone.
It is understood that the Neijiang 100MW/400MWh vanadium redox flow battery energy storage demonstration power station project has a total investment of about 1.5 billion yuan and a land area of about 45 mu. It is expected to be connected to the grid and put into operation in June next year.
This project is a strategic support project for the construction of the National Sichuan-Chongqing Energy Integrated Emergency Peak Shaving Base, which provides support for power grid peak shaving, helps new energy consumption and ensures power supply in summer. At the same time, the project is also the first all-vanadium liquid flow energy storage demonstration power station in Sichuan Province.
100MW/500MWh
https://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20230707/1317747.shtml
Polaris Energy Storage Network learned that on July 6, the State Power Investment Group Sichuan Electric Power Co., Ltd. signed a contract with the Management Committee of Sichuan Panzhihua vanadium Titanium High-tech Zone to invest in the construction of a 100MW/500MWh full vanadium liquid flow energy storage demonstration power station. After completion, it will become the largest demonstration application project of the full vanadium liquid flow energy storage power station in the southwest region.
It is reported that the total investment of the signed project is about 1.6 billion yuan. It is planned to be located in Tuanshan District, Panzhihua vanadium-titanium-titanium High-tech Zone, with a land area of about 80 mu, and the construction of 100MW/500MWh all-vanadium liquid flow energy storage demonstration power station.
6.6 Billion Yuan Investment
Shanghai Electric plans to invest 6.6 billion yuan to build a demonstration project of the whole industrial chain of all-vanadium liquid flow batteries in Xichang City and supporting green parks.
http://www.escn.com.cn/20230704/8f87811f5a244675884d6ea35a242e98/c.html
One of the most frequent questions asked when discussing the future of vanadium redox flow batteries. Some even think vanadium is a "rare earth" metal, which it is not. In fact, it is more abundant than lithium and quite a few other energy transition minerals.
Like every other mineral, you have to get it out of the ground (or recycle it). However, there is more than enough vanadium.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikhailnikomarov_didyouknow-vanitec-vanadium-activity-7074396257460379649-9j7Y
Vanadium is the 22nd most abundant element in the earth’s crust surpassing other battery minerals? It is more abundant than chromium, more than nickel, more than copper, more than cobalt, and more than lithium. Global vanadium resources exceed 64 million metric tonnes, with 24 million metric tonnes of known reserves, meeting current demand for over 150 years.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vanitec-vanadium_didyouknow-vanitec-vanadium-activity-7074371819075477504-szcV
https://www.scheepvaartkrant.nl/nieuws/vergunning-voor-portliners-eerste-oplaad-en-op****ponton
portliner received the final environmental permit from the municipality of rotterdam and dcmr milieu on 8 june for the mooring and installation of an emission-free charging and storage pontoon on the hartelkanaal.
as a result, the inland shipping company can now officially start building the pontoon for the first electrically powered inland vessels in the netherlands. about two years ago, portliner, together with greenchoice and vattenfall, started the project to realize the emission-free loading and storage pontoon on the canal.
issuance of the building and environment environmental permit is an important milestone for portliner's innovative project. “with this permit and the accompanying project, we are taking an important step in the transition to more sustainable shipping,” says ton van meegen, director of portliner.
construction of the first e-storage pontoon (a floating bunker station) in the netherlands can now also be started. this pontoon will serve as a bunker station with a capacity for 40+ ships wishing to use the flow battery technology.
flow batteries
portliner's future co2-neutral inland vessels – for the first 135 x 14.5 x 4.25 meter ship, the detailed drawings are already ready at the yards – will be equipped with so-called flow batteries. although this technology has been around for more than fifty years, portliner claims the national first to be the first to realize a 100 percent electrically powered ships with it.
“the project is a zero emission system,” van meegen explains, “which means that there are no harmful emissions on the water. this guarantees cleaner inland navigation for the future and also offers the possibility of converting existing ships (retrofitten) to this system.”
electrolyte
with flow batteries, the energy (electricity) is stored in electrolyte. positive and negative electrolyte is fed along the stack (conversion cells) on board the ship, allowing electricity to be absorbed and released. the electrolyte is a fixed amount that can be reused over and over again. for example, after use, the empty (discharging) electrolyte on a charging and storage pontoon can be exchanged. new electrolyte can also be 'refueled' with a special electrolyte bunker boat.
https://youtu.be/4wj9iaomzik
Https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/uk-needs-to-build-eight-hour-batteries-to-balance-power-grid-1.1932238
(Bloomberg) The UK will need batteries that last four-times longer to balance supply and demand in a system that’s becoming more driven by swings in renewable power generation.
Now, Britain’s grid operator is incentivizing short-duration batteries of about two-hours, that won’t be suitable in future, according to a report by Balance Power Group Ltd. Energy storage of eight-hours will be needed to help supply power to the grid during periods of low wind.
The risk is that the capacity will have to be built twice, replacing shorter duration projects, which will mean even longer queues for grid connections. National Grid Plc and regulator Ofgem should support bigger projects, offering developers quicker connection dates and financial support in exchange, according to the report.
“Two-hour electricity storage systems will likely produce a sub-optimal outcome due to a larger than necessary volume of grid connections being required,” Balance Power said in the report. “This will likely add extra costs and time delays to connect individual electricity storage projects to the grid with the knock-on impact of making electricity more expensive for consumers in the interim.”
The UK wants to build 50 gigawatts offshore wind by 2030 but needs a stable technology as back up for periods when it’s not windy. To achieve the goal of having a carbon-free electricity grid by 2035, storage is needed to take renewable electricity when it’s abundant and discharge it when it is scarce. Reducing demand during still periods will also be a crucial way of balancing the network.
“To lose this momentum due to the significant gridlocks we’re experiencing will have serious, long-term effects on our ability to reach and sustain a net zero grid,” said Phil Thompson, chief executive officer of Balance Power.
Mikhail on LinkedIn regarding.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikhailnikomarov_are-we-developing-the-right-electricity-storage-activity-7074452001568301056-VhqY
Https://swzmaritime.nl/news/2023/06/08/portliner-to-build-two-zero-emission-inland-ships/
PortLiner intends to build two 135 x 14.50 m (429 TEU) inland waterway ships of the PortLiner “DUTCH” design. The company has now received a recommendation from Lloyd’s Register for the concept flow battery on board these inland vessels, which allows zero-emission operations.
The ships will be equipped with a 1500 kW electrical main propulsion, and an 840 KW electrical bow thruster. The electrical energy will be provided by a flow battery from the Austrian manufacturer Cellcube-Enerox. The flow battery system will have a maximum output of 3×500 KW with an electrolyte energy storage of 10,000 kWh.
In addition to being zero-emission, the vessels will also be prepared for future autonomous sailing.
Also read: CellCube and Portliner to build flow battery solution for all-electric inland vessel
E-Storage bunkering pontoon
PortLiner will also develop its own infrastructure by building an “E-Storage” bunkering pontoon, which will be located in the Hartelkanaal in the Port of Rotterdam. The PortLiner ships will exchange the electrolyte by pumping the decharged electrolyte to the bunkering pontoon and pumping the charged electrolyte to the ships. The ships can also be charged through a shore connection.
Both the ships and the pontoon will be certified by Lloyd’s Register against class Rules, ES-TRIN and ADN requirements.
Emission label A
With the development of these ships PortLiner will contribute to the greening of the inland waterway fleet as the ships will generate zero emissions. Based on the received technical specification of the system electrolyte, the inland vessel will receive an emission label A.
Portliner USA with NYTDA Logistics
https://youtu.be/AlmSvjw8-QI
Powered by Vanadium Flow Battery Propulsion.
100% Zero emission now Certified By Lloyds Marine.
Portliner 135 x 14,5 Meter - 429Teu Container Barge Lloyds Register
"LABEL A" certificate for ZERO EMISSION sailing
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/portliner_activity-7072243188903596032-xz6H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Portliner
https://www.portliner.nl
Https://twitter.com/juniorindaba/status/1666034109943037952?s=61&t=sEIAAQSR69vfNBHcTsCvgQ
Anthony Viljoen, Andrada Mining has received double-digit unsolicited approaches from international lithium entities from five continents. Were looking for strategic partners to participate in the acceleration of the Company’s lithium strategy #juniorindaba #mining
Https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kaisermike_itsreal-thinkahead-actnow-activity-7070231619428618240-KdFU
Queensland is currently witness to the creation of an industry. This is Vecco Group’s new Vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility for supply into grid-scale flow batteries. 3 weeks from first production. In time it will be supplied by Vanadium mines around Julia Creek and support local battery manufacture. This department has financially supported the project and is coordinating mine infrastructure, facilitating battery manufacture proponents and partnering on the new critical minerals common user processing facility. It’s all part of the state’s New-Industry Development Strategy.
https://www.ctechinnovation.com/vanadium-electrolyte-manufacturing/
How a tiny outback town is showing the world a path to achieving net zero
https://inqld.com.au/business/2023/05/05/how-a-tiny-outback-town-is-showing-the-world-a-path-to-achieving-net-zero/
“Because there are no acceptable substitutes for Vanadium in aerospace titanium alloys, it is essential for both military aircraft and ballistic missiles”
https://usvanadium.com/us-titanium-alloys-aerospace-threatened/
Https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vflowtech_1mwh-vanadium-innovative-activity-7064880905525350400-nfbj
We are delighted to share the successful completion and pick up of our ground breaking #1MWh system, comprising of our latest cutting-edge PowerCubes 100-500 system.
This system showcases our latest advancements in #Vanadium Redox flow battery technology, with a highly efficient stack, an improved cluster-wise efficiency for effortless servicing and an #innovative method for reducing shunt-related degradation.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our dedicated team members and valued partners for their unwavering hard work and support in reaching this significant milestone. It has been an incredible journey, and we are excited to push even further!
To learn more about our revolutionary long duration #energystorage solutions and stay updated on our latest innovations, follow our page or visit our website at
https://vflowtech.com/.
Https://www.linkedin.com/posts/h2-inc_vrfb-redoxflowbattery-longdurationenergystorage-activity-7064803539960692736-aOxB
H2, Inc., a leading flow battery company in the world, has finally opened its new VRFB manufacturing facility in South Korea, named ‘K1 Plant’. The annual production capacity of the plant is 330MWh, which is one of the largest manufacturing capabilities in the world for VRFBs.
Making full use of this new plant, H2 aims to expand its flow battery-based long-duration energy storage business globally. Accompanied by the production capacity of this plant, H2 plans to concentrate more on the development and production of utility-scale VRFBs. The first project that the new plant produces will be the US largest 20MWh VRFB project to be deployed in northern California next year. A few more new utility-scale VRFB projects will follow soon.
H2 has further strengthened its extensive vertical-integration strategy that covers R&D activities for VRFBs as well as production capability through K1 Plant’s opening. Moreover, H2 is considering expanding its production plants additionally in South Korea and the US after the K1 Plant.
Through this business expansion, H2 is expected to contribute significantly to the global drive towards achieving carbon neutrality in energy and power generation industries.
Https://twitter.com/IDCSouthAfrica/status/1655523883322159105?s=20
The IDC is calling Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) to apply for concessionary funding to provide energy solutions for SMEs. The funding will support SMEs that prefer to have a financed instead of owned energy solution.
https://www.idc.co.za/esco-energy-solutions/
The IDC intends to provide concessionary funding to Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) to enable them to provide financed energy solutions to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce or eliminate the impact of load shedding. The envisaged small-scale embedded generation solutions will typically include rooftop solar PV with or without batteries to enable energy storage for consumption during load shedding. The ESCOs will enter into medium to long-term (indicatively up to 10 years) Contracts such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Power Lease Agreements (PLAs), Instalment Sales Agreements (ISA), Lease-To-Own Arrangements and any other similar arrangements with qualifying SMEs.
This funding will be aimed at supporting SMEs that prefer to have a financed energy solution rather than owning the asset and taking on the corresponding liability. The energy solutions provided to the SMEs by ESCOs will be required to demonstrate a positive impact on the SMEs’ future cashflows and thus their ability to honour the terms of the Contracts for a specified tenure.
Https://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20230504/1304456.shtml
Polaris Energy Storage Network learned that on May 4, 2023, Beijing Xingchen New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. announced the completion of its all-vanadium liquid flow Jiwa-level factory, Xing G Intelligent Manufacturing Base, in Changzhou Wujin National High-tech Industrial Development Zone.
Star G Intelligent Manufacturing Base adopts a fully automated production line and a modern management system, with high-quality and efficient production capacity. At the same time, it has perfect production and R&D facilities, and is equipped with the most advanced testing equipment and tools to ensure product quality and stability. It is expected that the company will start the first phase of the 300MW mass production line in August 2023, and the second phase of the 700MW mass production line will be completed in December of the same year, with a final total production capacity of 3GW.
More Polaris Power China VRFB News
https://news.bjx.com.cn/topics/quanfanyeliudianchi/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikhailnikomarov_vanadium-vrfb-flowbattery-activity-7060276327987195904-u06I
For non-vanadium flow batteries to be more competitive than VRFBs their electrolyte would need to cost 20 times less than vanadium-based electrolyte. This is based on modeling frameworks developed at MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, which I shared in a post a few months ago (and link below).
Vanadium is ideal for a flow battery, and VRFBs have been proven to not just work but work extremely well (nearly no capacity degradation after over a decade of operation). The only reason that other flow battery chemistries are pursued is because vanadium is not the cheapest base material for electrolyte and, in theory, cheaper materials would create a cheaper electrolyte and thus a cheaper flow battery.
The research and modelling from the MIT shows that while this is theoretically possible, the additional costs needed to make other flow battery technologies work (including the cost of more expensive materials for the power module and / or downtime or additional systems to allow the electrolyte to "rest," not to mention lower round-trip efficiencies), mean that the cost of the non-vanadium electrolyte would need to be at lest 10 and likely 20 times less than vanadium-based electrolyte. Only at those really, really low electrolyte costs can non-vanadium flow batteries compete on a total ownership or levelised cost with a VRFB.
The challenge to achieve an electrolyte that has a manufactured cost of $10/kWh is immense, making it extremely unlikely, regardless of how cheap the base material is. Even in vanadium electrolyte, around 25% of the cost is not due to vanadium. Between $50-80/kWh is a manufacturing cost. It includes the costs of high purity water and reagents / acids, the cost of manufacturing (e.g. utilities, rent, labour, etc.) and the cost to recover the capital investment for the manufacturing plant itself. While all of these can be brought down significantly with scale, higher energy density, cheaper financing and optimisation, they will never be "free." I cannot envision achieving $10/kWh manufactured electrolyte, although $20-30/kWh may be possible at scale and with an optimised supply chain (and luck). At that price, though, the VRFB would still be cheaper overall.
Conference call
Bushveld Minerals Chief Executive Officer, Fortune Mojapelo, Finance Director, Tanya Chikanza, will host a conference call at 12:00 noon UK time (1:00 pm SAST) today to discuss the announcement. Participants may join the call by dialling:
Tel: United Kingdom: +44 (0) 330 551 0200; South Africa: Toll Free: 0 800 980 512, USA Local: +1 786 697 3501
Password: Quote Bushveld Minerals - Conference call when prompted by the operator.
A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website post the call.