AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
_06_16_2026_04_54_27_535266.jpg)
Highlights
- High-purity vanadium electrolyte meets Japanese industry standards
- Speewah ore shows strong results without solvent extraction
- Strategic steps underway for project commercialisation
Tivan (ASX:TVN) has achieved a significant technical milestone in its journey to become a key player in the global energy storage market. The company announced the successful completion of its vanadium electrolyte (VE) testwork program, using vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) ore sourced from its Speewah project in Western Australia. The electrolyte product met the high-purity specifications required by Sumitomo Electric Industries, a major Japanese manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries (VFBs).
The testwork confirmed that Speewah’s VTM ore is highly suited to salt roasting technology, delivering a vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) product with an impressive 99.86% purity level. Notably, this level of purity was achieved without relying on solvent extraction, which simplifies the process and may reduce overall production costs. The VE was then prepared and tested at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where its electrochemical performance was found to be nearly identical to that of a commercial V₂O₅ sample, validating the suitability of the Speewah-derived product for large-scale battery applications.
This development strengthens Tivan’s position in the growing vanadium flow battery sector and supports its ambition to supply high-purity vanadium electrolyte both locally and internationally. The company is now evaluating two distinct processing pathways for the Speewah Vanadium Project. One involves a collaborative approach under its TIVAN+ initiative with the CSIRO, while the other follows a more traditional salt roast processing route.
Discussions are also planned with Sumitomo Electric Industries and Sumitomo Corporation (TYO:8053) regarding potential project development and commercialisation of vanadium flow battery technologies within Australia. These talks may mark the beginning of deeper engagement between Australian and Japanese industry players focused on clean energy technologies and long-duration energy storage solutions.
Tivan’s Executive Chairman, Grant Wilson, highlighted the importance of this achievement, noting that both the vanadium and fluorite resources at Speewah represent a unique critical minerals opportunity for Australia. He emphasized the strategic alignment with the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and National Battery Strategy, positioning Speewah as a potential sovereign source of vanadium at a time when domestic production remains absent.
This progress comes at a time of increasing global interest in long-duration energy storage, where vanadium flow batteries are seen as a durable and scalable solution.
