Scotland’s Motherwell Welcomes New Factory for Long-Life Vanadium Flow Batteries
Date: 24 Jul 2024 |
Source: The Scotsman, 24 July 2024
A new factory for assembling long-life vanadium flow batteries has opened in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. These batteries, known for their endless rechargeability and recyclability, are designed to store renewable energy and smooth the transition to low-carbon power sources like wind and solar. Invinity Energy Systems, a UK-Canadian company, is expanding its operations to meet rising global demand.
The Motherwell plant, along with an existing facility in Bathgate, West Lothian, will help Invinity scale up production. The batteries are safer and more sustainable than lithium-ion alternatives, using vanadium and water-based electrolytes that are non-corrosive and recyclable. Already in use in locations such as a Scottish Water plant and other international sites, these shipping container-sized batteries provide 4 to 12 hours of energy storage, ensuring grid stability by mitigating the intermittency of renewable power sources.
Invinity aims to create up to 50 new jobs at the Motherwell site, contributing to Scotland’s goal of achieving net zero by 2045. The company's Chief Development Officer, Jonathan Marren, highlights the environmental benefits and durability of vanadium flow batteries, emphasizing their long-term efficiency and safety. Formed from the 2020 merger of redT and Avalon Battery, Invinity is now focused on scaling its technology globally from its Scottish bases.