Using VRB technology, the Vanadium Energy Storage System was designed and manufactured. The design and operating characteristics based on VRB were optimized, and the system integrated much intelligent control and automation components to manage the operation of the device.
With increasing maturity of the technology, vanadium batteries are constantly adapting to different energy storage requirements. In March 2001 the Institute of Applied Energy installed a stable vanadium battery system for storing wind turbine output of AC 170 kW×6 h.
Studies have shown that vanadium batteries can be a sustainable solution. When we can create huge stores of energy to access as required, we will be liberated from the need to maintain rapidly-accessible energy generation such as coal or gas.
Vanadium flow batteries. In flow batteries, the energy production and capacity are independent. Energy is stored in tanks, whereas the capacity depends only on the amount of liquid stored. This provides a great design flexibility that other batteries do not allow. They are also safer, as the two liquids don’t mix causing a sudden release of energy.
Vanadium batteries can be a reservoir of energy much in the same way as we use actual reservoirs to store rainwater for later use. The ability to store electricity would reduce reliance on gas and coal. In turn this would increase fuel security and cut CO2 emissions, helping to meet agreed emissions targets.
An unheralded metal could become a crucial part of the renewables revolution. Vanadium is used in new batteries which can store large amounts of energy almost indefinitely, perfect for remote wind or solar farms. And what’s more there is loads of the stuff simply lying around in industrial dumps.