en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL), together with its subsidiary VSUN Energy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Alcoa to assess the application potential of vanadium flow battery (VFB) energy storage in alumina refinery operations. AVL, headquartered in Western Australia, is a resources and technology company.
Under the collaboration framework, the two parties will conduct a technical and commercial feasibility assessment of a vanadium flow battery energy storage system with a nominal capacity of 50 to 80 megawatts and a storage duration of 6 to 8 hours (extendable to over 8 hours). The proposed system will be evaluated for its performance in supporting daily refinery operations, optimizing energy dispatch during peak demand periods, and enhancing the utilization of renewable energy in Alcoa's operations.
The study will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of deploying a long-duration vanadium flow battery system at Alcoa's refinery sites and associated land in Western Australia. AVL and VSUN Energy will lead this scoping study, with work scope covering battery design, cost estimation, electrolyte supply, financing options, and potential government funding support. Should the study yield expected results, the parties may advance to a detailed feasibility study phase and explore commercial arrangements, including potential energy offtake agreements.
Graham Arvidson, CEO of AVL, stated that this project provides a significant opportunity to demonstrate the value of vanadium flow batteries in utility-scale industrial applications. He noted that long-duration energy storage will play a critical role in advancing industrial electrification and improving renewable energy utilization, with vanadium flow battery technology being particularly well-suited for such scenarios. Collaborating with a globally recognized industrial operator like Alcoa helps assess the practical contribution of long-duration storage to operational flexibility, energy cost management, and decarbonization goals.
AVL expects the project to utilize its V-Nomad electrolyte technology platform, paired with VSUN Energy's Lumina modular, scalable, utility-scale battery energy storage system. The Perth-based company stated that the collaboration with Alcoa aligns with its value-added "mine to battery" strategy, reflecting the company's integrated position across the vanadium value chain—from resource development and electrolyte manufacturing to the deployment of utility-scale batteries—and represents another important step in demonstrating the role of vanadium flow batteries in Australia's energy transition.
Alcoa operates three alumina refineries in Western Australia—Kwinana, Pinjarra, and Wagerup—as well as the Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines in the Darling Range. The Pennsylvania-headquartered company recently also acquired the bauxite and alumina refinery assets of fellow miner South32 in the state's southwest, a transaction valued at approximately US$8 billion.
