How do vanadium flow batteries work?

Here’s how our vanadium flow batteries work. The fundamentals of VFB technology are not new, having been first developed in the late 1980s. In contrast to lithium-ion batteries which store electrochemical energy in solid forms of lithium, flow batteries use a liquid electrolyte instead, stored in large tanks.

Are vanadium redox flow batteries viable?

Among these systems, vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) have garnered considerable attention due to their promising prospects for widespread utilization. The performance and economic viability of VRFB largely depend on their critical components, including membranes, electrodes, and electrolytes.

When were vanadium flow batteries invented?

In the 1980s, the University of New South Wales in Australia started to develop vanadium flow batteries (VFBs). Soon after, Zn-based RFBs were widely reported to be in use due to the high adaptability of Zn-metal anodes to aqueous systems, with Zn/Br2 systems being among the first to be reported.

How long does a vanadium flow battery last?

In fact, a single VFB will deliver 3x the lifetime throughput of a comparably-sized lithium battery. Learn how vanadium flow battery (VFB) systems provide safe, dependable and economic energy storage over 25 years with no degradation.

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.

What is a flow battery?

In contrast to lithium-ion batteries which store electrochemical energy in solid forms of lithium, flow batteries use a liquid electrolyte instead, stored in large tanks. In VFBs, this electrolyte is composed of vanadium dissolved in a stable, non-flammable, water-based solution.