Australian Vanadium Limited and Alcoa of Australia Limited have agreed to pursue a scoping-level assessment into using vanadium flow battery technology to provide energy storage for Alcoa's alumina refining operations in Western Australia. The agreement is framed as a non-binding memorandum of understanding between the two companies.
The scope of the proposed study covers technical and financial evaluation of a vanadium flow battery energy storage system with a planned capacity range of 50 to 80 megawatts and a nominal storage duration of 6 to 8 hours, with the study to also assess the feasibility of extending storage duration beyond 8 hours.
Deployment options under review will include Alcoa's refinery sites and the associated landholdings it controls in Western Australia. The study is intended to be scoping-level, focused on establishing the basic technical parameters and financial implications rather than delivering detailed engineering designs.
Australian Vanadium, together with its wholly owned subsidiary VSUN Energy Pty Ltd, will take the lead on the scoping study. Their responsibilities are set out to include vanadium flow battery system design, preparation of technical specifications, development of cost estimates, and consideration of electrolyte supply arrangements. The scope also includes exploring project financing options and the evaluation of potential government funding opportunities.
Alcoa's role under the memorandum is to provide support for the study. Both parties will collaborate to explore how vanadium flow battery technology might be deployed to supply battery energy storage capacity in support of Alcoa's operations.
The memorandum of understanding is non-binding and the study is scoped to identify technical and financial parameters; it does not itself commit either company to subsequent project development. Outcomes from the scoping study will determine whether further, more detailed work or project execution steps are warranted.
Contextual note: The study will examine both technical feasibility and the financial case for deployment, including system sizing, supply of electrolyte, and potential sources of project funding. Specific sites under consideration are limited to Alcoa's sites and landholdings in Western Australia as identified for the study.