Flow Battery Europe Celebrates 40 Years of Vanadium Flow Battery Innovation with Special Webinar
Date: 07 Nov 2024 |
Source: Flow Battery Europe News, 31 October 2024
Flow Batteries Europe (FBE) recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of vanadium flow battery (VFB) technology in a webinar that brought together industry pioneers, experts, and over 120 attendees. The event featured an exclusive interview with Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos AM from the University of New South Wales, renowned for developing the world’s first VFB.
During the webinar, Professor Skyllas-Kazacos shared insights into the challenges and breakthroughs that defined the early days of VFB development, particularly the advances in solubility and electrode performance. She also recounted the pivotal role of Australian government grants in supporting early research, especially for projects aimed at remote and renewable energy applications.
FBE Secretary General Anthony Price OBE highlighted the remarkable journey of vanadium flow batteries, from their inception to their current role in sustainable energy. "Professor Skyllas-Kazacos’s work has laid a foundation that continues to impact renewable energy projects globally, providing essential energy storage solutions for a greener future," said Price.
Securing a Sustainable Vanadium Supply Chain in Europe
The webinar also addressed the pressing issue of vanadium supply, with Dr. Jana Plananska from Norge Mining explaining Europe’s reliance on imports, mainly from Russia and China, which constitute nearly 80% of global vanadium supply. Dr. Plananska emphasized the strategic importance of establishing European vanadium projects to reduce dependency on external sources. Projects like Norge Mining in Norway aim to supply the European market with vanadium oxide by 2029, but they require significant funding and political backing to meet rising demand.
Innovations in Vanadium Flow Battery Deployment
Dr. Thomas Lüth from CellCube showcased a notable VFB deployment at a high-altitude military base in Wyoming, USA, where these batteries power critical infrastructure and enable a transition to renewable energy in challenging environments. With no degradation over time, CellCube’s VFB systems offer 6-8 hours of energy storage and are integral to decarbonization in various sectors, from mining to remote communities.
Dr. Lüth further discussed the need for automation in VFB manufacturing, as many units are still assembled manually. Enhanced automation could improve efficiency, scale production, and lower costs, helping to meet the rising demand for long-duration energy storage in Europe.
Future of Vanadium Flow Batteries
The event underscored the critical role of VFBs in achieving global decarbonization targets. Moving forward, expanding European manufacturing, improving automation, and securing a robust supply chain for vanadium will be essential to advancing the technology and meeting energy storage needs.
For more information on the webinar or Flow Batteries Europe, visit Flow Batteries Europe’s website.