The cost of vanadium batteries is too high

Is vanadium good for flow batteries?

Vanadium is ideal for flow batteries because it doesn’t degrade unless there’s a leak causing the material to flow from one tank through the membrane to the other side. Even in that case, MIT researchers say the cross-contamination is temporary, and only the oxidation states will be affected.

Are there any vanadium flow batteries in the United States?

The United States has some vanadium flow battery installations, albeit at a smaller scale. One is a microgrid pilot project in California that was completed in January 2022.

Does vanadium have a supply chain problem?

But vanadium comes with its own supply chain issues. As the adoption of long-duration energy storage grows, demand for vanadium will skyrocket. Pure vanadium is rarely naturally occurring, though, and it’s usually mined as a byproduct or is otherwise found in compounds. Current production is segmented in China, Russia, and South Africa.

How much does a vanadium pentoxide cost?

For leasing to be an attractive option as compared to upfront purchase, vanadium prices must be sufficiently high and/or annual fees must be suitably low. At the time of writing, the price of vanadium pentoxide is ca. 16 $ kg −1 , which corresponds to 29 $ kg −1 of vanadium.

Are there alternatives to vanadium-based flow batteries?

MIT Department of Chemical Engineering researchers are exploring alternatives to today’s popular vanadium-based flow batteries. That process requires a strong analysis of how much the initial capital cost will be, informing future adjustments for maintenance or replacement.

How do aqueous batteries reduce cost?

In general, cost reduction of aqueous batteries is known to be achieved by decreasing the active material costs, considering the costs of water and its salts are almost negligible (USD$ 0.1 kg−1). However, it is also influenced by the aforementioned factors.