How much does liquid vanadium energy storage technology cost

Why is vanadium electrolyte so expensive?

One of the main costs affecting vanadium electrolyte is the price of moving it. Essentially when you transport the electrolyte you are moving acid and water. To reduce the cost of the battery, manufacturing the electrolyte close to the installation makes a lot of sense.

Why are vanadium batteries more expensive than lithium-ion batteries?

As a result, vanadium batteries currently have a higher upfront cost than lithium-ion batteries with the same capacity. Since they're big, heavy and expensive to buy, the use of vanadium batteries may be limited to industrial and grid applications.

Is vanadium good for flow batteries?

Vanadium is ideal for flow batteries because it doesn’t degrade unless there’s a leak causing the material to flow from one tank through the membrane to the other side. Even in that case, MIT researchers say the cross-contamination is temporary, and only the oxidation states will be affected.

Are there any vanadium flow batteries in the United States?

The United States has some vanadium flow battery installations, albeit at a smaller scale. One is a microgrid pilot project in California that was completed in January 2022.

How many litres of vanadium can be produced a year?

Primary vanadium producer Bushveld Minerals in South Africa is completing construction of its BELCO electrolyte plant which is expected to start operation in H1 2023, with an initial capacity of eight million litres per year. This production can be expanded to deliver 32 million litres per year.

Is vanadium a sustainable solution?

US Vanadium can recycle spent electrolyte from VRFBs at a 97% vanadium recovery rate. This makes the VRFB a truly sustainable solution – the vanadium resource is only being borrowed from future generations, not consumed at its expense. One of the main costs affecting vanadium electrolyte is the price of moving it.