The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma has just been released. Listen here.
https://nation.cymru/news/new-report-finds-wales-punches-above-its-weight-in-global-research/
Wales’ research institutions achieve results beyond their scale, according to a report published today.
The review, ‘A Performance-based Assessment of the Welsh Research Base’, was commissioned by Professor Peter Halligan, the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales.
It was carried out by Elsevier, an international information analytics company, and looks at the research produced by Welsh universities, partnerships and other institutions between 2010 and 2018.
The report shows that over the last 20 years, Wales has boosted the volume, quality, and international reach of its research base to become one of the most efficient UK nations at converting relatively small levels of funding into highly-regarded and innovative research.
Despite Wales comprising 0.1% of the world’s researchers and securing only 0.05% of global Research and Development funding, it succeeds in producing 0.3% of the world’s research articles; 0.5% of citations and 0.5% of the most highly-cited articles.
Some of the other key findings in the report include:
• Wales’ share of the top 5% of most highly-cited publications is twice the global average;
• Wales’s citation impact is 80% above the global average and 13% above UK average;
• Despite a comparatively small research base, Wales is highly efficient in terms of output vs spending;
• Collaboration between corporations and academic institutions in Wales grew by a fifth between 2010 and 2018;
• Wales has 3.4% of all of the UK’s researchers, but they produce 4% of its output.
• More than half of Wales‘s research output was produced in international collaboration
‘Examples’
Recent examples of ground-breaking Welsh research work include the establishment of a UK-wide network to test for Covid-19 in wastewater by Bangor University.
Backed by Welsh Government funding, the new epidemiology network helped to inform public health decisions during the pandemic; built up future pandemic preparedness and highlighted the important role played by the wastewater industry in public health.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4442508-vanadium-miners-news-for-the-month-of-july-2021
A Roskill post stated:
The vanadium market is set to tighten over the year and more so in 2022, driven by higher demand but also by tighter supply, as Chinese steel **** producers are running close to capacity. Outside of China, incremental supply will also be limited and come mainly from AMG's new facility in Ohio, USA, and Bushveld's Vametco gradually increasing its production in South Africa. Roskill believes that vanadium prices reached a low in Q4 2020 and should gradually rebound in 2021.... Vanadium redox batteries (VRBs) could become a major market for vanadium amid growing demand for energy storage, should the technology develop.... On the supply side, Roskill does not expect significant tonnages from new projects to enter the market before 2024.
Couple of links within the link itself
https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=18709654&gfv=1
StorEn Technologies Inc. Touts Benefits of Vanadium Flow Batteries
July 22, 2021 1:40 PM
Renewable energy is the future of energy
Vanadium batteries are uniquely suited to the task of rolling out renewable energy on a larger scale
Perhaps one of the most compelling advantages of vanadium flow batteries is their cost
The debate is over, according to a recent StorEn Technologies blog: renewable energy is the future of energy (https://ibn.fm/IlQCs). The only discussion left, according to the company, is identifying the best path to get there.
“At StorEn Technologies, we believe that vanadium flow batteries are the key to making sustainable energy sources like solar power more widely accessible,” states the blog, which outlines why the benefits of&
Read More>>
“VRFB battery systems are easier to manufacture than other batteries, due to the use of only a single metal component, vanadium, to store the energy,” Algar said.
“They are ideal for accelerating battery manufacturing in Australia, using locally produced vanadium and other battery components.”
AVL is one of eight companies in the resources technology and critical minerals sectors awarded a matched-funding grant under the Australian Government’s Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing National Manufacturing Priority roadmap.
Minister of Industry Science and Technology Christian Porter on Thursday announced almost $50 million had been allocated to the eight companies as part of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.
“Australia’s resource sector is world-class,” he said. “We are helping to unlock this enormous potential by providing targeted support for projects that will deliver big rewards for our local economy in terms of export earnings and new job opportunities.
“It is also critical that we build our sovereign capability in this sector, with China currently the world leader in critical minerals processing including battery production.”
“Whether it’s building large-scale battery systems, adding value to critical minerals exports through new refining techniques, or driving the adoption of battery power in mining vehicles, these projects will increase Australia’s international competitiveness and help position us a future leader in this crucial sector.”
Other recipients include New South Wales-based Batt Mobile Equipment which received $4.5 million in funding to build heavy battery electric vehicles (EVs) for underground hard rock mines.
Lynas Rare Earths will use its $14.8 million in funding to develop a world-first process to refine rare earth ore – essential for permanent magnet and EV production. The new refining process reduces the need for hazardous chemicals and delivers a significantly higher-grade product for export. The project will be based in WA’s Goldfields region.
Elphinstone in Tasmania will receive $5.1 million in funding to develop a range of battery-powered underground mining support vehicles that eliminate the need for diesel use in underground environments.
In the Northern Territory, Core Lithium will use its $6 million in funding to help build a pilot processing facility for the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide while Queensland-based Brisbane METS Lab No. 1 will use its $1.2 million to develop its vanadium processing pilot plant.
https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2021/07/22/australian-vandium-to-fast-track-manufacture-of-flow-batteries/
Perth-based Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) has secured a $3.69 million federal government manufacturing grant which will allow it to design, build and operate a $7.4 million commercial vanadium battery electrolyte plant in Western Australia (WA) and develop vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) prototypes for both off-grid and residential settings.
AVL managing director Vincent Algar said the matched-funding grant will also allow the company to finalise its high-purity vanadium pentoxide processing route as part of the development of its Australian Vanadium Project located in the Murchison province in WA.
AVL plans to supply vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) from the Australian Vanadium Project to manufacture vanadium electrolyte which will then be supplied to VRFB projects in Australia and in the Asia Pacific Region.
“The grant will provide support to AVL to achieve production of high-purity vanadium pentoxide, which is a key input to vanadium-titanium master alloys for critical steel applications and vanadium electrolyte for batteries,” Algar said.
“In turn this will assist development of the project, with the company now in discussion with offtakers for vanadium electrolyte in addition to vanadium pentoxide.
“The grant will allow AVL to produce vanadium electrolyte commercially to support the development of the long-duration energy storage market, which will play a key role in future grid stability in this renewable energy generation era.”
AVL said the electrolyte plant will be the first plant of its type in the region. Conditions of the grant dictate the manufacturing project must be fully completed by March 31, 2024.
Flow batteries are emerging as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries which currently dominate the energy storage sector.
Lithium-ion batteries are solid-state batteries, storing energy in metal, whereas flow batteries store energy in electrolyte liquids. They usually comprise two tanks, one containing a positively-charged anode and the other with a negatively-charged cathode, separated by a membrane.
Supporters of the technology claim using liquids allows flow batteries to produce electrical currents without degradation, giving the batteries a longer cycle life and allowing them to store charge for longer periods compared to lithium-ion batteries. It also makes them non-flammable and well-suited to Australian conditions.
Algar said the appeal of VFRB is clear, declaring them ideal for providing long-duration energy storage, from three to 12 hours, while vanadium electrolyte – which accounts for 30% to 60% of the cost of the battery, depending on how many hours of storage are required – can be leased to reduce capital cost and can be 100% reused or recycled at the end of the battery’s mechanical life.
https://www.largoresources.com/English/news-and-media/news-details/2021/Largo-Resources-Announces-Second-Quarter-2021-Production-and-Sales-Results-Positive-Vanadium-Demand-Expected-to-Continue-in-H2-2021/default.aspx
V2O5 production of 3,070 tonnes (6.8 million lbs1)in Q2 2021, a 20% increase over Q2 2020 and 55% above Q1 2021
Total V2O5 equivalent sales of 3,027 tonnes in Q2 2021 vs. 1,018 tonnes in Q2 2020
Global V2O5 recovery rate2 of 79.9% in Q2 2021 vs. 80.8% in Q2 2020
Commissioning of vanadium trioxide (“V2O3”) processing plant initiated
2021 production, sales and cost guidance maintained
Strong vanadium demand continues: Tight vanadium availability coupled with strong demand has led to continued price increases since the start of 2021
Entered into first battery sales contract with Enel Green Power España (“EGPE”) for a VCHARGE± system: One of the largest vanadium redox flow battery (“VRFB”) deployments in Europe
Advanced discussions with additional energy storage customers ongoing
Paulo Misk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Largo, stated: “I am very encouraged by the ongoing development of our clean energy division as highlighted by the recent signing of our first milestone battery sales contract with a world-class partner, EGPE. We believe this further validates the Company’s innovative value proposition for energy storage customers and underpins a significant growth opportunity for Largo.” He continued: “In Q2 2021, the Company concluded the commissioning and ramp up activities associated with its kiln and cooler upgrades, including improvements of the mining, crushing and milling circuits to support a new nameplate production capacity of 1,100 tonnes of V2O5 per month. We expect to reach the new nameplate capacity in Q3 2021. Following these activities, global recoveries2 began to improve in Q2 2021 and the Company achieved 82.2% in June. Looking ahead, we expect to achieve our 2021 production and sales guidance through a rigorous operating and sales program during the remainder of the year.
“We are also pleased to report that commissioning of the Company’s V2O3 processing plant has begun and production is expected by the end of the third quarter. V2O3 is an important high purity material required in the manufacturing of master alloys, chemical products and electrolyte used in VRFBs. The addition of this product should increase the Company’s high purity market share as this sector gradually recovers and will support the development of our clean energy division with its use in the manufacturing of electrolyte.” He concluded: “Vanadium prices continued to edge higher in Q2 2021 following limited material availability and increased demand from the steel industry. During Q2 2021, the average European Fastmarkets Metalbulletin price per lb of V2O5 was US$8.19, representing an increase of 16% over Q1 2021 and 33% above the average price seen in Q2 2020. We expect vanadium prices to remain elevated and well above long
https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2021/07/20/forget-cineworlds-share-price-rise-id-rather-buy-this-penny-stock-right-now/
I’m not tempted to go dip-buying following Cineworld’s recent share price fall below 60p. Indeed, there are a string of much better penny stocks I’d much rather buy today.
Take Bushveld Minerals (LSE: BMN), which trades around 11.5p. Okay, its operations might be a million miles away from those of the cinema operator. This UK share digs for vanadium in South Africa and makes components for energy storage systems.
But unlike Cineworld, whose industry is coming under increased pressure from the likes of Netflix, demand for Bushveld’s services could rocket. This is because vanadium redox flow batteries are essential in preventing energy created from renewable sources being lost.
The number of ‘green’ energy projects being built is rising at a tremendous pace, giving the company plenty of business to go out and win.
Finally, unlike Cineworld, Bushveld Minerals has a rock-solid balance sheet that it can use to develop its operations. Okay, the mining industry can be highly problematic which can damage revenues and jack up costs. But, all things considered, I think this UK share could still prove one of the best penny stocks to buy today.
https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/LARGO-RESOURCES-LTD-1410646/news/Largo-Resources-Enters-into-its-First-Battery-Sales-Contract-with-Enel-Green-Power-Espa-a-for-a-VC-35898090/
Largo Enters into its First Battery Sales Contract
with Enel Green Power España for a VCHARGE± System
TORONTO - Largo Resources Ltd. ('Largo' or the 'Company') (TSX: LGO) (NASDAQ: LGO) is pleased to announce that Largo Clean Energy Corp. ('LCE') has entered into its first VCHARGE± vanadium redox flow battery ('VRFB') system sales contract with Enel Green Power España ('EGPE'). Under the contract, LCE is obligated to deliver a 5 hour 6.1 MWh VCHARGE± system for a project in Spain with expected commissioning in Q4 2022, subject to receipt of notice to proceed from EGPE within the next 180 days.
Paulo Misk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Largo, stated: 'We are excited to have been selected by Enel Green Power España as the preferred energy storage solution partner on this project. Integrating Largo's leading high purity vanadium production with the disruptive capabilities of our VCHARGE± system, including superior performance, long life, optimal cost structure and proven durability, should position Largo as an emerging leader in the VRFB industry.' He continued: 'The world is in need of clean and safe long-duration energy storage and we believe our VCHARGE± system can be a significant part of this solution going forward. We look forward to the successful deployment of this system.'
Ian Robertson, Chair of the Clean Energy Committee of the Board of Directors of Largo, added: 'We are enthused that this sales contract with a world-class customer represents commercial validation of the LCE energy storage system and are confident that the technical and commercial competitiveness of the LCE proposition will continue to be proven through future sales.'
The Iron flow battery (IRFB) is one of the candidates to compete with VRFB in populating the large-scale stationary market. The IRFB is an interesting candidate for large-scale applications due to the low cost of iron, which leads to a reduced capital cost. In addition, it offers the possibility to easily recycle the electrolyte, and avoid cost fluctuation of the electroactive material, as it might happen to vanadium. In addition in a recent study comparing VRFB, ZBB, and IRFB production, has also showed the IRFB to be the less polluting technology all over the production process.
Although the IRFB will likely compete for large-scale applications with VRFB, the two technology will bring to the market a different quality of storage system. This will in turn allow a larger variety of products for the customer.
The last promising RFB system is, of course, the Zinc/Bromine flow battery (ZBB). From a technical point of view, ZBB is a hybrid flow battery, which means one of the electrodes (the zinc electrode) is not liquid. In the specific case of ZBB, it is in fact a solid metal. This offers some advantages, like a reduced dimension and weight of the battery, which makes this battery well suited for indoor applications, and some disadvantages like a linked energy/power capacity relation. From a chemical point of view, the zinc metal undergoes an electroplating/electrodeposition which might cause the formation of dendrites which might provoke battery failure. Finally, because two different electroactive species are employed, the cross-mixing of electroactive species leads to capacity fade, without the possibility to regenerate the electrolyte.
https://www.idtechex.com/it/research-article/a-growing-interest-in-vanadium-but-competition-is-keeping-the-pace/24239
The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) has been the first redox flow battery to be commercialized and to bring light to the flow battery technology. Thanks to the work performed by Monash university's professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos on VRFB over the 1980s, this technology is gaining field to the world adopted energy storage system, lithium-ion battery.
In the latest update of the IDTechEx report, "Redox Flow Batteries 2021-2031", a substantial forward-looking approach has been assumed in forecasting the trend of adoption of this technology, with a multi-billion market size in 2031.
The results of IDTechEx's research show that the large-scale adoption of RFB is just a matter of time.
Redox Flow Batteries will be employed as a workhorse device, as defined by redT's website. redT merged with US Avalon battery in 2020, founding one of the largest VRFB companies, Invinity.
The large adoption of RFB systems doesn't imply that Li-ion batteries will disappear from the market, but simply that the two systems will address different aspects. In fact, IDTechEx expects Li-ion batteries to be mostly employed for a short duration of storage, hence focusing their application for high power applications with an average storage time between 1h and 5h. Possibly, the range addressed by Li-ion batteries might increase over the years.
Therefore, the RFB market will point to the large amount of energy this system can store. Amount of energy, which is provided due to the low capacity loss per cycle.
The VRFB device is the most studied and developed technology among the RFB systems. The presence of Vanadium as electrochemical species in the catholyte and anolyte reduces the issue of cross-mixing of the electrolyte.
Over the last few years, the price of vanadium has been one of the parameters affecting the adoption of this technology. To compensate for this issue, the vanadium flow battery producers started to collaborate with vanadium electrolyte companies to cope with this problem. One of the solutions to the high vanadium cost was to offer a leasing scheme for the electrolyte. A company like Invinity offers, in collaboration with Bushveld Energy, a leasing option to purchase the electrolyte separately. In this way, the cost of the battery is reduced, making VRFB more affordable. A further advantage of the vanadium electrolyte is the possibility to recycle it.
Similar to Bushveld energy, LARGO resources a Canadian mining company started to address the vanadium redox flow battery field, with the acquisition of Vionx Energy's asset for $35 million at the end of 2020.
https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2021/michigan-state-labs-funding-covid-19-wastewater-research
Two Michigan State labs receive funding for continued COVID-19 wastewater monitoring
Two Michigan State University labs will receive nearly $6 million for projects to conduct COVID-19 wastewater surveillance and testing.
This funding is part of a $49 million grant, supporting 19 local projects from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or MDHHS, to continue wastewater surveillance in areas statewide. Wastewater is tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease that is shed in feces into Michigan public sewer systems.
Joan Rose’s Water Quality and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory and Irene Xagoraraki’s Environmental Virology Laboratory each received funding. Rose’s lab will serve as the lead laboratory, responsible for standardizing lab testing and providing technical assistance. Her lab will receive $3.2 million and Xagoraraki’s lab will receive $2.7 million.
Funding for the project will continue through July 31, 2023. As COVID-19 cases decrease across the state, wastewater monitoring can provide useful information regarding disease detection and spread on a larger community level. This can be especially important as clinical testing rates decrease.
"We are going use wastewater surveillance as a way to examine the disease spread and improve communications, access to testing and vaccinations, and return the campus to a vibrant, interactive place to learn,” said Rose, MSU Homer Nowlin Endowed Chair in Water Research (affiliated with the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife and Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences) and leader of the Global Water Pathogens Project. “This will be particularly important in the fall when we come back to campus due to the seasonal nature of the virus."
Irene Xagoraraki, professor of environmental engineering, and her research team began a wastewater-based epidemiology project in 2017, in collaboration with the city of Detroit. The new project focuses on the use of wastewater surveillance to provide early warnings of COVID-19 cases in the Detroit metropolitan area using wastewater treatment plant and community sewer-shed surveillance, Xagoraraki said.
“Outcomes of this project will provide important information on prediction and control of upcoming peaks for SARs-CoV-2 and variants in the area,” Xagoraraki said.
The new funding expands the current monitoring system to cover a larger geographic portion of Michigan. Over the course of the project, it is estimated that more than 87,000 wastewater samples will be collected and analyzed.
"I am so proud to be part of the Michigan network of advance laboratories,” Rose said. “This is unique in the U.S., and everyone is contributing to the well-being of Michiganders through partnerships between public health, state government and wastewater utilities."
Broadly, the three recommendations are to:
Set national health-based targets for recreational water bodies. These include microbial levels (from faecal contamination); cyanotoxins (from harmful algal blooms); and, where justified by risk and resource availability, other microbial hazards beach sand and chemicals;
Develop and implement recreational water safety plans (RWSPs) for priority bathing sites;
Conduct ongoing surveillance and risk communication of recreational water-related illness associated with recreational waters and give the public timely information about health risks.
"Implementing these guidelines would go a long way to ensuring that happy memories are made at the beach for generations to come.", said Medlicott.
WHO Update...
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/1648868-jal-shakti-minister-shekhawat-reviews-jal-jeevan-mission
WHO has launched updated Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality, as the northern hemisphere summer reaches its peak and beaches, lakes and riversides are likely to see the return of visitors after months spent close to home amid COVID restrictions.
The guidelines, which should be applied alongside COVID-19 prevention measures, outline health-based water quality targets and best practices for monitoring and surveillance, pollution control and communication approaches such as predictive models to let users know in real-time when it is safe to go in the water.
Recreational water use has long been recognized as a major influence on health and well-being. The benefits are evident when watching children play in the water or observing families taking much needed time together relaxing on a beach. Water sports can offer invigorating and healthy exercise options for all ages. Spending time at the waterside observing uplifts the spirit and can enhance physical and mental well-being.
"Clean, well-managed waterfronts – be they oceans, lakes or rivers – are a focal point for communities and an economic drawcard for tourist and sporting events, but, as human activity and climate change intensify, more beaches are prone to pollution, which can cause illnesses and even death," said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at WHO. "To manage these risks, countries which do not already have a national recreational water safety framework should develop one, which should include anticipating local climate change impacts on water quality."
Pollution risks come from a variety of sources. Popular swimming locations may be impacted by overflows of untreated sewage, runoff of animal excreta and fertilizers from nearby farms, which can pose direct health risks and trigger toxic algal blooms. Some sites may also be affected by chemical pollution from industrial activities or become polluted by beach users themselves through poor sanitation, faeces from pets and litter.
Apart from the clear potential health impacts for water users, all of these also erode the benefits to the well-being and economic potential of the site.
For these reasons, many countries around the world regularly monitor water quality, enact measures to reduce pollution and make timely information available so water users can make an informed decision about if and where they swim.
"The latest guidelines include targets and risk management approaches based on scientific evidence and best practice from around the world summarized in several recommendations to better protect recreational water users and anticipate risks to water quality", said Kate Medlicott, Sanitation and Wastewater Team leader at WHO.
In addition, IDTechEx noted that VRFBs also have the highest potential to capture the largest market share of such an application.
While lithium-ion batteries are popular and currently preferred for use in electric vehicles, VRFBs are favoured for large-scale energy storage systems. One of the strongest argument for VRFBs is its sustainability – offering one of the most sustainable options in the renewable energy storage market.
The core component of a VRFB – vanadium electrolyte – can be recycled more easily than other battery chemistries and can be reused in other VRFB installations when the battery it is being used in reaches the end of its life. Over 90% of the vanadium in each VRFB can be reused or recycled.
Furthermore, the non-degradation of the vanadium electrolye means potentially unlimited rechargeability of a VRFB and abattery with a generally longer lifespan before being decommissioned. VRFB technology also offers potential advantages in terms of reduced CO2 emissions over lithium-ion batteries, especially when coupled to a renewable energy source.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have shown that when used in conjunction with renewable energy sources, VRFBs can deliver a lower carbon footprint of up to 78% per MWh1 than the main competitor technology, lithium-ion batteries.
Mikhail Nikomarov, Chairman of Vanitec’s Energy Storage Committee commented:
“Despite constituting only a small portion of total vanadium demand, year-on-year demand for vanadium stemming from the energy storage sector increased by 26% from 2019 (1 385 MTV). While there are hundreds of VRFB installations globally and many more under construction, findings of the VRFBs reduced carbon footprint will aid in more projects being earmarked for future development.”
Chinese vanadium flow battery system manufacturer Rongke Power embarked on a project to build a 200 MW, 800 MWh VRFB in the Dalian high-tech zone in China’s Liaoning province – the largest chemical storage power station in the world.
More recently, Shanghai Electric has planned a 100MW/400MWh VRFB project in Yancheng in east China’s Jiangsu province and VRB Energy announced a 100MW/500MWh VRFB integrated with a power station in Xiangyang city in central China’s Hubei province.
While China is by far the largest VRFB market, other countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the US, also adopting large-scale VRFBs.
https://www.miningreview.com/energy/energy-storage-boom-drives-vanadium-use-in-long-duration-batteries/
While the majority of current vanadium demand remains underwritten by the steel industry, as an additive to strengthen various grades of steel, a growing segment for vanadium demand is opening up for its use in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) – large-scale, long-duration battery storage systems, which are aimed at supporting large, utility and commercial-scale renewable energy projects.
Vanitec, the not-for-profit international global member organisation whose objective it is to promote the use of vanadium-bearing materials, says that the growth of vanadium production and consumption amidst COVID-19 challenges has shown the resilience and adaptability of the vanadium industry.
Furthermore, vanadium’s role in the growing energy storage sector is expected to increase dramatically over the coming years as a result of increased deployment of renewable energy projects.
Vanitec’s global vanadium statistics show that of the 109 418 MTV of vanadium produced in 2020, approximately 1 881 MTV was used within the energy storage sector during the same year.
Through the commitment to meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement, many countries around the world have increasingly began to adopt renewable energy over fossil fuel-based energy as a means to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon footprints. As such, the growing necessity of energy storage solutions is inherently linked to the growing adoption of renewable energy technologies.
However, as a result of the variable nature of renewable energy systems, whose electricity generation is not always aligned with electricity demand, energy storage systems, such as VRFBs – which use vanadium electrolyte to store energy – can be used as a means to reliably store energy produced from solar or wind power for use as electricity at a later stage.
Further, VRFBs are also an important tool for ensuring the reliability of power grids, smoothing out peaks and deficits in power demand, thus preventing sudden surges that can overload local distribution systems. This serves to maintain a consistent and uninterrupted flow of electricity, thereby creating significant opportunities for the energy storage market.
According to a report titled: Redox Flow Batteries 2021-2031 – published earlier this year by market research and business intelligence firm IDTechEx, a significant adoption of redox flow batteries is expected.
In a separate report published by IDTechEx earlier this year, titled: Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage 2021-2031, the firm said that among the different redox flow battery chemistries, VRFB is currently the most investigated and most widely adopted chemistry for long-duration, utility-scale energy storage applications due to its long historical development from the 1980s.
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/isgec-heavy-engineering-jv-firm-bags-order-for-renewable-energy-project-in-us/2116089
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Isgec Heavy Engineering on Wednesday said its joint venture (JV) firm has bagged an order for supply of reactors for a renewable energy project in the US.
"Isgec Hitachi Zosen received a prestigious order for the supply of 4 reactors of vanadium modified low alloy steel, for a renewable energy project in the USA," Isgec Heavy Engineering said in a regulatory filing.
Isgec Hitachi Zosen is a joint venture of lsgec Heavy Engineering and Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Japan, (HITZ) located at the port town of Dahej, Gujarat, on the west coast of India.
The scope of work includes mechanical design, material procurement, fabrication, testing, and supply of equipment, the company said.
Isgec Heavy Engineering said this is the first order for Isgec Hitachi Zosen for supplying such reactors to the US.
The company, however, did not disclose the value of the order received.
The renewable energy project, which is under execution, will convert vegetable oils to synthetic transport fuels. PTI SVK ANS ANS
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/batterystorage-podcast-interview-with-79200/
Troutman Pepper energy partner Bill Derasmo talks with battery and storage experts from across the industry. The podcast shares the unique perspectives of industry veterans and thought leaders, exploring how they are deploying this new and exciting technology.
In this episode, Troutman Pepper Partner Bill Derasmo interviews Largo Resources CEO Paulo Misk, where they explore Largo’s long duration energy storage solution, which uses a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). This episode represents a bit of a departure from previous episodes, which have focused largely on shorter duration lithium ion-based storage. The podcast also includes a discussion on Largo’s unique “vertically-integrated” business model.
The Logistics Node is approved and endorsed by the World Bank, as an industrial and commercial strategic point for the entire northern region of Argentina and the mining industry will be a part of this great project,” he said.
The Güemes Industrial Park is projected as one of the most important industrial development poles in the Northwest, due to its strategic position within the bi-oceanic corridor.
The realization of the Logistics Node will facilitate logistics and distribution of goods, both for domestic and international trade, while the Dry Port will allow exports directly from the NOA.
https://en.mercopress.com/2021/07/06/mining-company-pledges-to-invest-us-34-million-in-lithium-plant-in-northern-argentina
Mining company pledges to invest US $ 34 million in lithium plant in northern Argentina
Tuesday, July 6th 2021 - 09:15 UTCFull article0 comments
Ganfeng Lithium is arguably among the largest in the world in the production of lithium and batteries.
Ganfeng Lithium is arguably among the largest in the world in the production of lithium and batteries.
A local subsidiary of China's Ganfeng Lithium has purchased a 23-hectare property in the General Güemes Industrial Park in the northwestern Argentine province of Salta, it was announced.
The company reportedly plans to achieve a production capacity of 20 thousand tons of lithium chloride per year under the local franchise Litio Minera Argentina, which is expected to generate 195 jobs.
The Chinese firm has pledged to invest US$34 million in their new plant, which is expected to be operational in five years.
“Today we are moving forward with the acquisition from the province of 23 hectares of land in the General Güemes Industrial Park, which will be used for the construction of a lithium chloride industrial plant,” said Simón Pérez Alsina, Vice President of Litio Minera Argentina.
Ganfeng Lithium is arguably among the largest in the world in the production of lithium and batteries.
The documents related to the purchase of the land to settle the factory were signed Monday by Pérez Alsina on behalf of the developers and Pablo Outes, Coordinator of Liaison and Political Relations of Salta's provincial government.
“It is important the impulse that we can give from the State as an incentive and the control that we exercise over the companies, in the hiring of local workers and the support to SMEs, so that they become suppliers for this activity,” said Outes.
It is estimated that the plant will be fully operational in approximately five years and that the construction process of this industry will have an enormous economic impact at the local level since the vast majority will demand local suppliers.
Pérez Alsina concurred, adding it was company policy to hire local suppliers and labour.
Salta Secretary of Industry, Commerce and Employment Nicolás Avellaneda, highlighted that in the last ten days this is the second company to have purchased a property in the Güemes Industrial Park. “We are satisfied because it is an investment of US $ 34 million and this will bring greater investments, which in the coming years will be reflected,” he said.
Avellaneda also explained that the bidding documents which will allow the construction of the Multimodal Logistics Node in Güemes, adjacent to the Industrial Park and the Free Trade Zone, are to be finalized soon.
https://www.***************************/ferro-alloy-resources-qa-the-world-needs-us-to-supply-this-vanadium-lonfar/4121008152
Q5: Now, you touched on the vanadium price. How do you see that price moving?
It’s well known, two big drivers, both in a way related to the greening of the economy and reduction of fossil fuels. The traditional one, steel, add a kilogram of vanadium into a tonne of steel and you can almost double it strengths which means use half as much. Making steel is a huge user of fossil fuels, a huge single pit on world energy is making steel, so much of the world economy depends on steel that it’s very, very important.
So, vanadium has a big part to play in reducing that amount of steel, reducing fossil fuels and of course, it’s an economic no-brainer because if you can halve the amount of steel you use in a given application then you’ll save money because saving half the cost of the steel is a lot more expensive than that kilogram or two of vanadium that that’s needed to achieve it. That’s been a growth factor for many years now and the intensity of vanadium used in the world per tonne of steel used in the world has been rising and driving the vanadium industry.
On top of that, we’re now layering another factor, which could, estimates vary, but could at an outside, double the amount of vanadium the world needs and that’s vanadium redox flow batteries. They’re just getting going, but they seem to be getting going very strongly and in the vanadium industry, because it’s small, there isn’t much stock holding, a little increase in demand can greatly affect the price as we found in 2018. So, the price is going to be strong, the pressure is upwards, vanadium is in abundant supply in the world, but it’s all in the form of magnet type, which is very high cost to develop.
If you look where the world is going to get it’s vanadium from, they can get it from these high cost magnetite projects, which need a price of $10/$12/$15 per pound to support it, or it can get it from Ferro-Alloy Resources. We’re very happy with today’s prices, which $8.5/$9, in fact our forecast production cost is down not much over$1.50.
So, the world needs us to supply this vanadium without making it prohibitively expensive for flow batteries, all that demand is going to underpin in the price of vanadium. I think it’s in everybody’s interest that there should be stability in the price of vanadium so that the flow battery industry can get going without having the stop/start caused by the 2018 peak when vanadium went up to $30 a pound compared with its usual price of $6/$7/$8.
So, I’m looking forward to stability, I’m very happy with today’s price, the pressure is going to be upwards and we have a deposit that can really be expanded, there could be a phase II, phase III, phase IV and, and we will run with whatever demand there is.