Development of Vanadium Electrolytes (FBI CRC Project Number 038)

Project completed by Future Battery Industries CRC– link will open in a new window which receives allocation of MRIWA funds.

The Challenge

The presence of impurities in the vanadium battery electrolyte impacts on the performance and the operation of the Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB). Understanding the influence of a of impurities and additives is needed to establish whether performance, cost and recyclability can be enhanced.

Key Findings

New electrolyte chemistries and production pathways for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) demonstrated the feasibility of producing vanadium electrolyte directly from ore concentrate, bypassing the traditional V₂O₅ route with potential for large‑scale, impurity‑free and more cost‑effective electrolyte production.

Iron‑ and manganese‑based electrolyte systems were also investigated to improve energy density and cost‑efficiency, with studies identifying species decomposition and ionic crossover as key performance challenges.

Benefit to WA

Vanadium electrolyte batteries have the potential to increase the effectiveness of long term, flexible storage of renewable energy from various sources more suited to the Western Australian environment. Supply of vanadium electrolyte from WA could position the State to be a leader in vanadium battery technology.

DOI

Touma B. Issa, Jonovan Van Yken, Pritam Singh and Aleksandar N. Nikoloski, 2025, Advancements and Applications of Redox Flow Batteries in Australia, Batteries (Basel), Vol.11(2), 78, DOI: doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020078.