The Western Australian Government has commenced the first stage of the Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the delivery of a Vanadium Battery Energy Storage System (VBESS) in Kalgoorlie.
The installation of a VBESS is a major election commitment under the Cook Government’s Made in WA plan, which will help diversify the economy as well as enable the State to become a renewable energy powerhouse and to make more things within Western Australia.
Backed by a $150 million government funding, this project is set to become the largest of its kind in Australia and it has the potential to help grow the State’s advanced manufacturing industry while also supporting the development of a new local supply chain around vanadium mining, processing and flow battery technology.
“This EOI kicks off a major project that will boost power reliability in the Goldfields and support our clean energy transition.
“We want to partner with industry to deliver local content, great jobs, and real value for WA. A locally made and sourced vanadium flow battery will create jobs during construction, deliver improved energy resilience for the region and complement other planned upgrades in the Goldfields region.
“Long-durationstorage projects like this will play a bigger role as we build a more resilient energy system for the future,” Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
The VBESS project will involve the installation of a 50MW / 500MWh Western Australia-made vanadium flow battery that utilises locally sources and processed vanadium capable of discharging for up to 10 hours.
The first part of a two-stage EOI process will run until 30 January 2026. This stage will identify and understand existing capabilities in the market; however, it is not part of the procurement process.
Stage two of the EOI process will get underway in early to mid-2026, which will evaluate detailed business cases with the aim of selecting a preferred proponent to deliver the Vanadium Battery Energy Storage System in Kalgoorlie.
“I’m thrilled to see this step in the development of a locally manufactured Vanadium Battery Energy Storage System right here in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. This is an incredibly exciting milestone for our region, and I’m proud to see the Cook Government committing $150 million to make this project a reality.
“The vanadium project is a gamechanger for the Goldfields’ energy future and it positions Kalgoorlie-Boulder at the forefront of innovation, showcasing our capacity to lead in advanced battery manufacturing, creating local jobs and diversifying our local economy,” Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent said.
Source: Government of Western Australia (1, 2); Australian Mining