Australia will soon house its first commercial-scale vanadium flow battery electrolyte manufacturing facility in Townsville, Queensland.
The $26 million Townsville Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility from Vecco Group will produce the electrolyte needed in grid-scale vanadium flow batteries, a type of battery leading the energy storage revolution.
The construction project is backed by the Queensland government’s Industry Partnership Program and is part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which seeks to establish a battery industry supply chain in North Queensland.
The new Townsville Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility will also accelerate the development of Vecco’s Debella Critical Minerals Mine and is expected to result in the creation of a new link in the supply chain, according to the Queensland government.
“There’s no better place to launch an Australian first than here in Townsville – the gateway to Queensland’s vast renewable energy zone and North West Minerals Province,” said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Once fully operational, the manufacturing facility will employ 21 people and produce nine megalitres of electrolytes annually, equating to an energy storage capacity of 175 MWh annually with plans to expand to 350 MWh.
Vecco will be using imported vanadium to produce high-grade vanadium electrolytes in Townsville until the Debella project comes online.
Vanadium flow batteries are beneficial for their long lifespan and lengthy storage capability. They are also non-flammable, making them a proven grid-scale energy storage solution.
“Australia’s demand for medium and deep duration storage by 2050 has been estimated at over 180GWh by the market operator, vanadium flow batteries made right here in Townsville from Queensland’s minerals can help meet this need while creating good jobs in regional areas,” said Thomas Northcott, managing director for Vecco Group.
“We look forward to taking advantage of all the opportunities opening up for renewable energy manufacturing now that the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is being delivered,” Northcott said.
