Green Critical Minerals (ASX: GCM) has begun commissioning its very high density (VHD) graphite technology pilot plant in New South Wales, marking a major milestone in the company’s development.
The transition to wet commissioning follows the successful completion of dry commissioning, which tested individual components for correct installation and operation.
The accelerated construction of the plant’s Line 1 was achieved through strategic equipment selection and procurement during the Christmas period.
This advancement allows for systematic testing of each production step to output prototype VHD graphite blocks.
The pilot plant’s Line 1 is designed to produce graphite blocks for two key markets:
- Customer qualification of heat sink products in high-performance electronics
- Solar-thermal energy storage blocks for product refinement and R&D in the renewables sector
Line 2 will focus on producing larger quantities of graphite blocks for the heat sink market, as well as blocks for electrical discharge machining (EDM) and a solar-thermal demonstration plant.
Managing Director Clinton Booth expressed enthusiasm about the project’s progress, stating: “Our VHD pilot plant has entered commissioning ahead of schedule, which has significantly accelerated our project timeline.”
The company now expects to complete prototype VHD graphite block samples in January, with first production anticipated in February.
The VHD graphite blocks are poised to play a crucial role in thermal energy storage (TES) for utility-scale renewable energy projects, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
This development aligns with Green Critical Minerals’ recent advancements in VHD graphite technology for solar-thermal energy breakthroughs, as reported in December 2024.
As wet commissioning progresses, Green Critical Minerals aims to showcase the full potential of its VHD graphite technology across various industries, potentially driving innovation and efficiency in renewable energy and high-performance electronics sectors.