The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney recently hosted the 40th Anniversary Flow Battery Innovation Symposium, marking four decades since the groundbreaking invention of the vanadium redox flow battery (VFB).
The event, which took place on October 15-16, brought together key players from across the flow battery supply chain to discuss advancements in long-duration energy storage crucial for the future of renewable energy.
Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos, the inventor of the VFB, and her team at UNSW organised the symposium.
The event showcased the significant evolution of VFB technology since the first 1kW battery was built at UNSW. Today, VFB systems are being installed internationally at capacities reaching the gigawatt-hour scale.
The symposium focused on several key areas:
- Market Opportunities: Discussions explored the growing demand for flow batteries in the Australian Energy Market.
- Manufacturing in Australia: Efforts by local companies to establish domestic capabilities were highlighted.
- Government Policy: The role of government investment and policy frameworks in positioning Australia as a global leader in energy storage was examined.
Australia is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the development and manufacturing of flow batteries, particularly vanadium-based systems.
This potential stems from the country’s significant vanadium reserves, which account for approximately 25 per cent of the world’s total.
Professor Skyllas-Kazacos highlighted the advantages of flow batteries, stating: “Unlike traditional batteries, flow batteries store energy in electrolyte solutions, allowing for flexible and scalable energy storage at lower costs for long-duration applications.”
The symposium highlighted the exciting economic opportunities for Australia in the flow battery sector.
These include not only supplying the growing global demand for vanadium and flow battery solutions but also establishing the country as a leader in the production and deployment of these technologies.
As the global energy landscape shifts towards renewable sources, the scaling up of flow battery deployments signals a major change.
VFBs are gaining traction globally for their ability to provide safe, reliable, and long-duration energy storage, offering advantages such as being non-flammable, non-explosive, and highly scalable.
The event concluded with insights from manufacturers planning operations in Australia, detailing how the country’s critical mineral reserves can fuel a thriving flow battery industry.
