New vanadium battery powers solar grid rollouts

Thorion Energy (Thorion) makes highly efficient, ultra-long life vanadium batteries. The batteries are based on research conducted at the University of New South Wales in Sydney during the 1990s. The company is now using vanadium batteries to create modularised, mini power stations.

These power stations are already replacing diesel generators at mine sites in remote parts of Western Australia. Today, a channel partnering strategy is helping the company to begin exporting to India, Vietnam and the Middle East.

‘With sufficient, decentralised energy storage, we can level the peaks and troughs of renewable energy generation,’ says Bradley Appleyard, Executive Chairman, Thorion. ‘Our batteries reduce the losses and costs of transmission lines. Our target customers are government, utilities and industry.’

Home-grown battery technology

Thorion’s solutions are based on chloride-based vanadium redox flow batteries. The company builds these batteries into modular, standalone power stations (SAPS), which can deliver 40 and 80 kWh of stored energy.

Thorion SAPS can be interconnected and expanded, or custom-built for specific applications. They are transportable and do not require specialised siteworks. They can also withstand climactic extremes, including 280km/h cyclones.

According to Appleyard, the company’s vanadium batteries stand out in 3 ways.

‘First, vanadium flow batteries are long-life,’ he says. ‘The chemistry exhibits minimal degradation compared to other battery chemistry. We estimate a high return on investment over a 20-year period.

‘Second, these batteries can operate within a –30 to +60 degrees Celsius temperature range. This is ideal for hot, solar-related sites because we don’t have to use additional energy to cool the battery.

‘Third, our electrolyte is non-combustible and highly recyclable.’

Remote installations across Australia

The company’s initial commercial focus was to help the Australian mining industry to replace diesel generators with reliable battery storage. Today, Thorion’s battery modules are supplying essential power in remote and extreme conditions.

‘Our first partner was SMEC Power and Technology, which services miners in Western Australia,’ says Appleyard. ‘Our first deployments were standalone power stations for mining exploration camps.’

The company’s batteries are also in use at Norseman Aerodrome, in Western Australia. This ultra-remote airstrip is home to the world-famous, Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service. 

Exporting to India and Vietnam

By 2025, Thorion began to eye overseas applications. To help grow exports, the company has adopted a channel-partnering model.

‘Our model is to establish local subsidiary companies,’ says Appleyard. ‘Then we roll out our technology in a continuous development cycle through channel partners, via equity stakes or contracts.

‘Essentially, we work with companies with secure channels-to-market, who can manufacture, install, commission and support energy-storage applications.’

In early 2025, Thorion Energy formalised sales and manufacturing agreements with a Fortune 500 company based in Vietnam. It also signed non-disclosure agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) with companies in India and Indonesia.

Boost for rare-earths exports

As a by-product, Thorion looks set to boost Australian vanadium exports. Director of Thorion, Martin Law, points out that there are 400 kg of vanadium in one of his company’s V40 battery modules.

‘As we expand, we look forward to facilitating the Australian vanadium export industry,’ he says. ‘Around 30% of the world’s vanadium deposits are in Australia. Vanadium mining has the potential to become as lucrative as lithium mining.’

Austrade assistance in India and Vietnam

Appleyard credits Austrade with facilitating commercial agreements in India, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Middle East.

‘We are immensely grateful to Austrade,’ says Appleyard. ‘Our partnership in Vietnam would not have happened without the Vietnam trade mission and Austrade’s business-matching initiative.’

Australian state-based officials also worked with Austrade in southern India to facilitate and organise introductions.

‘Austrade advisors based in India are highly professional and they provided an exceptional service to Thorion Energy,’ says Appleyard. ‘Austrade advisors have been a massive help to us in India. They are highly regarded by the board of Thorion Energy.’