Yellow Rock taps into battery storage

Vanadium and uranium explorer Yellow Rock Resources has formed a new subsidiary with an unnamed local solar system installer to sell vanadium-based batteries in Australia.

Yellow Rock, which is also developing its $265 million Gabanintha vanadium mine near Meekatharra, plans to enter the energy storage market with the establishment of VSUN Pty Ltd, and plans to distribute vanadium redox flow batteries.

“The vertical integration offers the opportunity for a mutually beneficial arrangement for vanadium supply and consumption once Gabanintha is in production with VSUN planning to establish a vanadium electrolyte plant in the future,” Yellow Rock said in a statement.

“Over the past few months the company has entered into negotiations with electrolyte producers, battery manufacturers and Australian-based solar installers as first steps in the process.”

VSUN will begin by distributing vanadium flow batteries from global producers, leveraging off installer partners and their existing client bases.

Yellow Rock chief executive Vincent Algar said the demand for renewable energy was continuing to grow as consumers sought sustainable energy supply.

“But without a way to store this energy the renewable sector is incomplete and has to rely on traditional, carbon dioxide-intense forms when the sun is down or the wind is not blowing,” he said.

“Energy storage solutions such as vanadium flow batteries are the perfect answer as they are truly scalable, have long lifespans, are safe and can be cost-effective when compared to escalating power prices.”

Yellow Rock has locked in distribution rights with two German vanadium battery makers, and is in negotiations with other major stakeholders in the vanadium battery storage market.

Yellow Rock shares were 25 per cent higher to 1 cent each at 12:45pm.

See more on our recent coverage on renewable energy and battery storage products here.