The Western Australian government is allocating AU$15 million in funding to Australian Vanadium Ltd. (AVL) to establish a high-capacity, relocatable vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility within the state.
The funding was awarded through the Investment Attraction Fund’s New Energies Industries Round 2.
The project is designed to expand local production capabilities for vanadium electrolyte, bolstering domestic supply chains for vanadium flow batteries.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion systems, vanadium flow batteries store and release electricity using liquid electrolyte solutions held in separate tanks.
Featuring a modular and relocatable design, the new facility can be deployed across various regional and industrial hubs throughout Western Australia, facilitating broader integration of grid-scale, long-duration energy storage.
State Development and Economic Diversification Minister David Michael noted that the initiative strengthens the state’s industrial capabilities while positioning Western Australia at the forefront of advanced energy storage technologies.
“By supporting AVL’s electrolyte manufacturing capability, we’re creating new opportunities in advanced manufacturing while helping position WA at the forefront of long-duration energy storage technologies,” the minister said.
Energy, Decarbonisation, and Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson highlighted that the project aligns with the government’s Made in WA plan, noting that local manufacturing jobs have grown by 13 per cent over the past year.
Beyond enhancing critical minerals supply chains, the project will generate skilled employment and training opportunities spanning advanced manufacturing, chemical processing, engineering, construction, and plant operations.
Launched in 2022, the Investment Attraction Fund has backed 47 projects with over AU$215.2 million in total funding, generating strong private sector engagement and local economic activity.
This latest backing aims to secure the foundational infrastructure required for the state’s ongoing transition toward low-carbon energy solutions and grid-scale reliability.