Primero has been at the forefront of the global push towards low-emission sources of energy and has worked with Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) to assist in their journey to producing vanadium flow batteries here in Western Australia. Vanadium flow batteries boast exceptional characteristics, including temperature resilience in harsh environments, long-duration capacity and stable energy storage.
Primero was engaged by AVL to complete an initial scoping study for the Vanadium Electrolyte Plant. This then progressed into an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase where Primero developed the scoping study to a 30% design level, enabling the cost estimation of the project and forming the basis of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build Australia’s first high-purity vanadium electrolyte plant in Western Australia. During project development, Primero worked collaboratively with AVL to assist them in gaining ARENA funding and FID.
The facility utilises proven licensed electrolyte manufacturing technology which has greatly reduced the development risk for the facility.
Primero’s Managing Director Michael Gollschewski said, “It’s great to see the hard work, collaboration and dedication of both teams come to life as the project continues to grow from strength to strength.”
The construction of the facility has been supported by an Australian Government Modern Manufacturing Initiative grant awarded to AVL and demonstrates the value of investing in domestic downstream processing capability, allowing more value from Western Australia’s battery mineral endowment to be captured and retained in Australia.
AVL’s Vanadium Electrolyte Manufacturing Facility will produce a supply of high-purity electrolyte for up to 33 megawatt hours per year of energy storage, to cater to the growing vanadium flow battery market.