Technology Metals Australia Ltd (ASX:TMT) has generated battery-grade vanadium electrolyte alongside Japanese technology partner LE System Co, Ltd.
The vanadium developer used feedstock from its cornerstone Murchison Technology Metals Project (MTMP) in WA’s Mid-West, confirming the viability of its ‘ore to electrolyte’ processing pathway.
Importantly, the vanadium electrolytes pass the bar set by major global vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) manufacturers, meaning ore from the MTMP could one day be used in the batteries of the future.
Big-picture, TMT is focused on bringing more high-grade vanadium to market, motivated by growing demand for long-life energy solutions around the globe.
From ore to electrolyte
TMT’s vLYTE subsidiary worked closely with LE System to generate the high-quality vanadium electrolyte, which was manufactured and tested at the latter’s Tsukuba Technical Centre.
While TMT provides the ore, LE System brings the operating expertise — the technology partner oversees its own vanadium electrolyte plant in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture.
TMT managing director Ian Prentice said: “Production of high-quality vanadium electrolyte from MTMP feedstock is a significant step in TMT’s strategic goal of becoming an integral participant in the VRFB supply chain.
“The fact that this maiden batch of electrolyte meets the strict specifications of VRFB manufacturers is a testament to the first-class orebody at the MTMP and the industry-leading status of our technology partner LE System.
“TMT is looking forward to progressing its relationships with global VRFB manufacturers and moving towards electrolyte production to support the growing long-duration energy storage market in Australia.”
Downstream feasibility study in the works
TMT and LE System’s recent test-work plays an important part in an upcoming feasibility study, which considers the former’s downstream vanadium electrolyte production capacity in Australia.
By optimising the ore to electrolyte pathway and weighing potential facility locations, TMT can consider ways it can bring commercial vanadium electrolyte samples to global VRFB battery manufacturers.
As part of its feasibility work, TMT is also considering a vanadium electrolyte pilot plant, which would prove its process viability and generate commercial-grade samples for interested customers.
If it enters production, the pilot plant would leach and refine ore from the MTMP, demonstrating the inherent potential of the full ore to electrolyte pathway.
TMT is engaging its tier-one partners to help make the pilot plant a reality.
Vanadium market booms
As TMT works to bring high-grade feedstock to market, there’s growing demand for vanadium to support the long-duration energy storage markets.
Contextualised by the world’s push towards net-zero targets, organisations are looking to VRFBs as a new way to capture and retain clean energy.
The Inflation Reduction Act, now in effect in the United States, has directed nearly US$400 billion into clean energy initiatives — money that will reach the market via tax credits, grants and loans.
Similar policies are coming on stream in Canada, where a refundable tax credit encourages investment into stationary electricity storage systems.
And over in Europe, the REPowerEU plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age are poised to accelerate permitting for renewable projects.
China is also investing heavily in vanadium energy storage, with some of the biggest Chinese producers earmarking substantial pockets of production to meet domestic demand for VRFB-grade electrolyte.
Thanks to the global policy push, CRU Group estimates demand for vanadium from the battery sector is expected to grow significantly from now until 2040.
Demand from the steel market currently represents around 90% of the market, but this is expected to reduce to 25% by 2040, with VRFBs consuming more than two-thirds of vanadium demand in 2040.
www.ferroalloynet.com
