Once considered a niche application, vanadium flow batteries (VFBs) are emerging as a major driver of future vanadium demand as global decarbonisation targets accelerate the need for long-duration energy storage solutions.
Will vanadium flow battery demand squeeze underlying supply fundamentals?
Instead, it is new demand from the vanadium flow battery market that is expected to squeeze the underlying supply fundamentals.
Is the vanadium redox flow battery industry poised for growth?
Image: VRB Energy. The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years, equal to nearly 33GWh a year of deployments by 2030, according to new forecasting. Vanadium industry trade group Vanitec has commissioned Guidehouse Insights to undertake independent analysis of the VRFB energy storage sector.
Vanadium flow batteries show technical promise for decarbonizing the power sector. High and volatile vanadium prices limit deployment of vanadium flow batteries. Vanadium is globally abundant but in low grades, hindering economic extraction. Vanadium's supply is highly concentrated as co-/by-product production.
Will vanadium supply increase in 2022-2030?
With steel still dominating vanadium demand (accounting for 94% of US consumption in 2023), this surge in battery use is expected to put significant pressure on supply. To meet this growing demand, global vanadium supply will need to increase by 6.9% annually between 2022-2030.
Why is vanadium a problem?
High and volatile vanadium prices limit deployment of vanadium flow batteries. Vanadium is globally abundant but in low grades, hindering economic extraction. Vanadium's supply is highly concentrated as co-/by-product production. Opportunities for growth of vanadium supply lie in principal and secondary streams.
Why are vanadium batteries so popular?
The batteries rely on vanadium's almost unique ability to exist in four stable oxidation states, which enables energy to be stored and discharged repeatedly without degradation. Historically, vanadium demand has tracked closely with industrial output and infrastructure spending, particularly in emerging markets. The main drivers: