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Highlights
- Vanadium electrolyte meets Sumitomo’s high-purity standards
- Speewah ore achieves 99.86% pure V₂O₅ without solvent extraction
- Opens door to long-duration battery storage opportunities in Australia
Tivan (ASX:TVN) has announced a significant breakthrough in its vanadium electrolyte (VE) testwork program, achieving a high-purity result that meets stringent specifications provided by Japanese manufacturer Sumitomo Electric Industries. This milestone supports the company's broader ambition to become a leading Australian supplier of high-quality vanadium electrolyte, a critical component in vanadium redox flow batteries.
The testwork program utilised vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) ore sourced from the Speewah project in Western Australia. The results confirmed the ore’s excellent suitability for salt roasting processing — a method that yielded vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) with a purity level of 99.86%, notably achieved without the use of solvent extraction. This high-grade V₂O₅ was then successfully used in VE preparation and testing at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), matching the electrochemical performance of a commercial V₂O₅ reference sample.
Such outcomes reinforce the technical viability of the Speewah ore as a strategic resource for producing VE at scale. The electrolyte’s performance positions Tivan to contribute meaningfully to the growing market for long-duration energy storage, where vanadium flow batteries are increasingly gaining traction due to their durability and grid-scale storage potential.
Looking ahead, Tivan is evaluating two potential processing pathways for the Speewah Vanadium Project. One involves a strategic collaboration through its TIVAN+ initiative with CSIRO, while the other considers a traditional salt roast flowsheet. The company also plans to explore future development and commercialisation opportunities in collaboration with Sumitomo Electric Industries and Sumitomo Corporation (TYO:8053).
Executive Chairman Grant Wilson described Speewah as “Australia’s premier dual-resource critical minerals project,” pointing out that neither fluorspar nor vanadium are currently produced domestically. He emphasized how this development aligns with Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy and National Battery Strategy, highlighting the potential for Speewah to become a secure, sovereign source of materials needed for energy transition technologies.
This progress marks a major step toward positioning Tivan as a key player in the global vanadium supply chain and further strengthens Australia’s role in the clean energy future. With supportive policies and growing demand for flow battery solutions, Tivan’s success at Speewah signals strong momentum for both the company and the broader vanadium market.
