Energy storage firm Invinity Energy Systems is set to create a US-based vanadium flow battery joint venture with U.S. Vanadium.
The 50:50 owned JV will focus on building and selling vanadium flow batteries in the US by utilising national, state, and local incentives to manufacture and sell domestic energy storage products.
The firms’ non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines plans to combine Invinity’s flow battery expertise with U.S. Vanadium’s (USV) vanadium electrolyte which is produced at a facility in Arkansas, US.
Under the terms, USV proposes to contribute up to $500,000 towards the funding of external expenses incurred in the pursuit of applicable local, state, and federal support in addition to other sources of industrial and commercial support.
Invinity will release further information regarding its relationship with USV as it progresses towards a definitive Joint Venture agreement.
Deploying flow battery technology
Earlier this month, Invinity delivered, installed and energised a 1.8MWh flow battery system at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) hydrogen R&D facility on the island of Eday in the Orkney Islands, UK.
Comprising 48 Invinity VS3 battery modules, the project will integrate flow batteries with tidal generation to optimise green hydrogen production at EMEC’s hydrogen production plant.
Once commissioned, the battery will store power during high power periods and release it during low power periods to ensure EMEC’s 670kW hydrogen electrolyser has a stable, renewable power supply, allowing the continuous production of green hydrogen.
Manufactured at Invinity’s facility in Scotland, the energy storage system was delivered in stages.
The project is in its final commissioning phase with integration of the tidal turbine and electrolyser expected to complete shortly.
Larry Zulch, chief executive officer at Invinity said: “This first of a kind project at EMEC illustrates the important role that vanadium flow batteries can play in the net zero energy system of the future.”