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The energy world is currently being pressured to move rapidly to renewable sources of energy. Two of the most commonly used renewable electrical energy sources, solar and wind power, are characterized by inconsistency. They often produce high amounts of energy when demand is low and vice versa. Many universities, academic establishments, and commercial companies are searching for the optimum energy storage solution.
Batteries are the obvious choice, however, the challenge is to create a battery that can cost-effectively store an extensive amount of energy.
There are many types of batteries, some known and established, such as lithium-ion batteries powering many electronic devices and electric cars. Others, such as the lead-acid battery, have been commonly used in vehicles for many decades.
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Being developed by the Yadlamalka Energy Trust (YET), the A$20m ($15m) project will wire together an 8MWh VFB developed by start-up Invinity Energy Systems with a 6MW solar array, producing some 10GWh of power per year.
“[YET] is excited about being the first in Australia to construct a large scale dispatchable solar power plant. Through using breakthrough technology in the form of vanadium flow batteries, we can deliver strong, economic infrastructure benefit to South Australia and at the same time support a low carbon economy,” said Yadlamalka Energy Trust chairman Andrew Doman.