Vanadium is an often-overlooked element that has gained significant importance in various industries, including steel production and, increasingly, energy storage. Despite its name being associated with the Nordic goddess of love, Vanadis, vanadium is a grey, highly abundant metal found in over 60 different minerals around the world. It is primarily used to strengthen steel, especially in applications such as car chassis, bridges, industrial tools, medical devices, and railway tracks.
Chemically, vanadium is a transition metal, making it an excellent conductor of electricity and more durable than alkali metals like sodium and lithium. This unique combination of properties has made vanadium particularly valuable in the development of energy storage technologies, such as vanadium flow batteries.
Vanadium’s ability to exist in four different ionic states makes it perfect for use in flow batteries. These batteries work by moving electrons between an anode (negative side) and a cathode (positive side) through an electrochemical reaction. Vanadium’s stable ionic states allow this process to be highly reversible, enabling the battery to be cycled (charged and discharged) almost indefinitely without significant degradation. This results in batteries with much longer lifespans compared to traditional batteries like lithium-ion.
Moreover, unlike other types of batteries that use different materials for the positive and negative electrodes, vanadium flow batteries use the same electrolyte for both sides, simplifying the design and improving the battery’s overall efficiency and durability. The simplicity of using a single element for both electrodes makes vanadium flow batteries an attractive alternative, especially in applications requiring long-term reliability.
Vanadium flow batteries offer several key advantages, particularly in the context of the global transition to renewable energy. One major benefit is their recyclability: tests have shown that 97% of the vanadium in these batteries can be recovered and reused, making them a more sustainable option compared to other battery technologies like lithium-ion, which are much more challenging to recycle. This supports the concept of a circular economy, where the materials used in production can be reused at the end of the battery’s life, reducing waste and reliance on raw materials.
Additionally, vanadium can be sourced not only through mining but also as a by-product of steel production, petroleum refining, and other industrial processes. This secondary production method reduces the need for mining and helps make more efficient use of resources.
Another critical benefit of vanadium flow batteries is safety. Due to the water-based electrolyte used in these batteries, there is no fire risk, which makes them ideal for large-scale energy storage systems. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which require temperature regulation and fire suppression systems, vanadium flow batteries are much safer and more easily installed in high-density configurations, maximising space efficiency.
The grid of the future, powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar, will require advanced energy storage solutions to balance supply and demand. Vanadium flow batteries are ideally suited for this role due to their safety, durability, and recyclability, making them an essential technology for the transition to a net-zero carbon future. Their ability to store energy safely, efficiently, and for long periods ensures they will play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of sustainable energy infrastructure.
Vanadium may not be as well-known as other metals like gold or silver, but its role in strengthening steel and enabling advanced energy storage systems is undeniable. As the world moves towards a cleaner, renewable energy future, vanadium’s unique properties make it an essential element in the development of safe, durable, and sustainable energy storage solutions. Its contribution to the global transition to net-zero carbon emissions is significant, and it is thanks to vanadium that innovative technologies, such as vanadium flow batteries, will help meet the challenges of the future electric grid.
Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd (LON:FAR) is developing the giant Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Kyzylordinskaya oblast of southern Kazakhstan. The ore at this deposit is unlike that of nearly all other primary vanadium deposits and is capable of being treated by a much lower cost process.
