How can vanadium redox flow batteries increase their share in energy storage?

Overcoming the barriers related to high capital costs, new supply chains, and limited deployments will allow VRFBs to increase their share in the energy storage market. Guidehouse Insights has prepared this white paper, commissioned by Vanitec, to provide an overview of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and their market drivers and barriers.

Will flow battery suppliers compete with metal alloy production to secure vanadium supply?

Traditionally, much of the global vanadium supply has been used to strengthen metal alloys such as steel. Because this vanadium application is still the leading driver for its production, it’s possible that flow battery suppliers will also have to compete with metal alloy production to secure vanadium supply.

Why are vanadium batteries so expensive?

Vanadium makes up a significantly higher percentage of the overall system cost compared with any single metal in other battery technologies and in addition to large fluctuations in price historically, its supply chain is less developed and can be more constrained than that of materials used in other battery technologies.

How is energy stored in a vanadium electrolyte system?

The energy is stored in the vanadium electrolyte kept in the two separate external reservoirs. The system capacity (kWh) is determined by the volume of electrolyte in the storage tanks and the vanadium concentration in solution. During operation, electrolytes are pumped from the tanks to the cell stacks then back to the tanks.

Is vanadium a critical raw material?

The European Commission identified and formally registered vanadium on the 2017 list of Critical Raw Materials for the European Union, while the United States, Canada and Australia have also listed vanadium as critical to supporting their economies.

Why do industrial batteries have a longer cycle life than conventional batteries?

The separation of power and energy capacity allows for independent scaling, which can be useful in industrial applications. These batteries also tend to have a longer cycle life than conventional batteries, as the liquid electrolytes degrade more slowly over time, even with some degree of crossover.