Townsville welcomes new vanadium battery manufacturing facility

Townsville is welcoming what will be Australia’s first commercial-scale vanadium flow battery electrolyte manufacturing facility as construction begins on the $26 million project. 

Vecco Group’s Townsville Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility will produce electrolyte used in grid-scale vanadium flow batteries, which is a type of battery that leads the energy storage revolution. 

The Queensland Government, through its Industry Partnership Program, is supporting the development of the new facility. This project is also part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan that includes establishing a North Queensland battery industry supply chain. 

“These batteries will be made in Queensland, right here in Townsville, and will change the game for renewable energy storage. 

“A key to my government’s landmark Energy and Jobs Plan is supercharging our SuperGrid with initiatives like this, as we transition to a cleaner, more reliable energy system. 

“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,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

The Townsville Vanadium Battery Manufacturing Facility is expected to begin production later this year, and it is set to support the development of Vecco Group’s Debella Critical Minerals Mine. 

Once up and running, the facility will produce approximately nine megalitres of electrolyte a year. This equates to an energy storage capacity of 175MWh annually, with potential expansion to 350MWh. 

About 21 people are set to be employed to operate the facility. 

Due to their long lifespan as well as lengthy storage capability and are non-flammable, vanadium flow batteries have proven their effectiveness as a grid-scale energy storage solution. 

“The batteries will be Queensland made and they will form part of a new vanadium supply chain, providing enormous possibilities for North Queensland. 

“Vanadium flow batteries provide the grid-scale storage needed so renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, can reliably power Queensland homes, businesses and industries. 

“The ability to store and discharge energy on an industrial scale is one of the final pieces in the puzzle for decarbonising the electricity network,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said. 

Source: Twitter - Annastacia Palaszczuk

Vecco Group is planning to produce vanadium and high purity alumina at its Debella Project – located near Julia Creek – and the mine is going to be integrated with the new manufacturing facility. While the Debella Project is not yet in operation, the company will use imported vanadium to produce high-grade vanadium electrolyte in its Townsville facility. 

“Thanks to Queensland Government support, Vecco Group is building the vanadium industry which will bring more jobs and investment to North Queensland. 

“This manufacturing facility will be a key enabler for vanadium flow batteries in the Queensland grid. We’ll be able to integrate mining and manufacturing and apply our expertise in critical minerals into the downstream supply chain to assist Queensland to achieve its renewable energy target. 

“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,” Vecco Group Managing Director Thomas Northcott said. 

Townsville will also be welcoming Australia’s first critical minerals demonstration facility, with the State Government investing $75 million in the Queensland Resources Common User Facility. 

In addition to the new facilities, a Queensland Battery Industry Strategy is also under development to help grow local industry and supply chains. Public consultation for the Battery Industry Opportunities for Queensland is going to be open until 31 March 2023. 

“There is enormous potential for vanadium mining and production in North Queensland as demand for vanadium batteries continues to rise. 

“The North West Minerals Province has an abundance of critical minerals like vanadium which is needed to produce large scale batteries which are a key part of Queensland’s Energy and Jobs Plan. 

“There are huge opportunities to continue creating good jobs in both our resources industry and renewable energy sector through developing critical minerals projects,” Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Australian Mining; PV Magazine Australia; Renew Economy; Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly