VSUN Energy and Horizon Power enter agreement for long duration energy storage
VSUN Energy, a subsidiary of Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL), has signed an agreement with WA’s regional energy provider Horizon Power for the purchase, installation and commissioning of a vanadium flow battery (VFB) in Kununurra.
The 22kWh battery can deliver up to 78kW of power and will be sourced from leading global VFB manufacturer, Invinity Energy Systems.
The use of long duration energy storage, in the form of VFBs, could assist Horizon Power to speed-up the decarbonisation of its energy network which covers 2.3mkm2.
Horizon Power will use the VFB for its long duration energy storage pilot which aims to increase the understanding of how this technology can provide long periods of 100% renewable energy in remote energy systems across WA.
Australian Vanadium chief executive Graham Arvidson commented on the agreement.
“This is the first contracted VFB project for an Australian energy utility,” he said.
“VSUN Energy has been actively pursuing opportunities for VFB deployments and is seeing an increased interest from all energy sectors for this effective energy storage technology which uses vanadium at its core.
“Horizon Power’s support of the VFB technology will also assist AVL and VSUN Energy’s planned vertical integration ‘pit to battery’ strategy.”
Horizon Power chief executive Stephanie Unwin said the pilot would support the company’s focus on solving the problem of long duration storage and performance in harsh conditions.
“Long duration energy storage provides backup power during times of peak demand or when the power supply is interrupted, storing high volumes of excess energy when demand is low and the ability to shift energy storage into the night,” she said.
“The VFB is specifically designed to deliver large amounts of energy over a long period of time and is temperature resilient – which is critical for our unique regional and remote networks.”
The agreement between Horizon Power and VSUN Energy can be terminated if completion is not achieved by March 28, 2024, subject to extension of time by mutual agreement between both parties.
Site planning and development work will now begin with Invinity Energy Systems’ VFB to be delivered and installed early next year.
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