Vanadium Batteries: Alternative for Energy Storage?

Mr. Hennesey's comments on the availability of vanadium supply is a little misleading. True, it is a common element that is found in the earth's crust almost everywhere. However, what he failed to mention is that there are very few vanadium projects globally that have a large enough resource size, an appropriate grade (north of at least 0.35% vanadium content in the raw ore), a process friendly resource (significantly impact both CAPEX & OPEX if it isn't), close to existing infrastructure, has both government and local stakeholders support, in a reduced risked location (political risk, transparency concerns, nationalization risk etc.) and is unencumbered without a long term off-take agreement that will dictate both the process technology and most importantly the end product(s). I can count on 2 hands the projects that meet most of these and on 1 hand those that meet them all. Vanadium is a commodity that is just as affected by economic factors as any other. So it does have swings in both supply and demand. Current situation is the very significant beginning of a supply scarcity globally, Depending on fly ash from Mexican and Venezuelan oil and Oil Sands bitumen and/or sourcing vanadium from steel scrap for a North American supply solution to provide the VE needed for Imergy's long term battery growth plan borders on irresponsible.

Mr. Hennesey's comments on the availability of vanadium supply is a little misleading. True, it is a common element that is found in the earth's crust almost everywhere. However, what he failed to mention is that there are very few vanadium projects globally that have a large enough resource size, an appropriate grade (north of at least 0.35% vanadium content in the raw ore), a process friendly resource (significantly impact both CAPEX & OPEX if it isn't), close to existing infrastructure, has both government and local stakeholders support, in a reduced risked location (political risk, transparency concerns, nationalization risk etc.) and is unencumbered without a long term off-take agreement that will dictate both the process technology and most importantly the end product(s). I can count on 2 hands the projects that meet most of these and on 1 hand those that meet them all. Vanadium is a commodity that is just as affected by economic factors as any other. So it does have swings in both supply and demand. Current situation is the very significant beginning of a supply scarcity globally, Depending on fly ash from Mexican and Venezuelan oil and Oil Sands bitumen and/or sourcing vanadium from steel scrap for a North American supply solution to provide the VE needed for Imergy's long term battery growth plan borders on irresponsible.