Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL) has appointed two engineering, procurement, and construction contractors, GenusPlus Group and Sedgman, to assist in the development of Project Lumina — a scalable vanadium flow battery system for the Australian market.
Genus will provide early contractor involvement (ECI) services to develop the electrical connection of the vanadium flow battery (VFB) battery energy storage system (BESS), while Sedgman will provide ECI services relating to the plant design.
Meanwhile, Austrian VFB manufacturer CellCube will be appointed as technology provider.
Project Lumina involves the development of a VFB BESS for Australian energy markets that is modular, scalable, turnkey, and suitable for medium- to long-duration battery storage applications at utility scale, employing well-established VFB technology optimised for local conditions.
The project’s next phase is focused on delivering a detailed design of a VFB battery energy storage system solution, which is anticipated to refine the phase one assumptions and develop an executable delivery strategy.
Australian Vanadium CEO Graham Arvidson says VSUN Energy, the company’s subsidiary, is progressing Project Lumina’s next phase which includes the design of a 100 megawatt four-hour and eight-hour BESS using VFBs.
Australian Vanadium, which has a market capitalisation of $112.25 million, says one of the key focuses under phase two includes developing a construction-ready and detailed design and delivery strategy for the VFB BESS.
The company will continue discussing with potential energy offtakers for deploying energy storage solutions, progress land access arrangements for future deployments, and develop a funding strategy.
The funding strategy will allow for the rapid deployment of energy storage solutions and determine the merits of deploying a VSUN Energy build-own-operate business model, as well as delivering on an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis.
Phase two will enable Australian Vanadium and potential third-party investors to make a final investment decision on the deployment of utility-scale VFB BESS solutions by VSUN Energy in Q3 2025.
However, the company noted that as work progresses and options are explored, timelines may be changed.
Genus constructs and maintains critical power and communications infrastructure. The company’s projects have included EPC for the recently completed Kwinana BESS lithium-ion battery installation for Western Australia’s largest electricity generator and retailer of gas and electricity, Synergy.
Sedgman is a provider of processing and infrastructure solutions for the global resources industry. The company is contributing its design and construct experience to the vanadium electrolyte storage and auxiliary systems and providing battery system integration for the project.
CellCube is focused on VFB technology and has over 20 years of experience designing and deploying its battery systems worldwide. The company is engaged to contribute its knowledge to design VFB power units, develop associated engineering documentation and provide technical guidance.
Australian Vanadium’s subsidiary VSUN Energy is progressing the development of Project Lumina.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Australian Vanadium
