Stryten Energy LLC, a U.S.-based provider of energy storage solutions, has announced that one of its affiliates, Stryten Critical E-Storage LLC, has signed agreements with Largo Clean Energy Corp. (LCE), a subsidiary of Largo Inc. (NASDAQ, TSX: LGO). Together, they have formed a new company called Storion Energy, LLC. The goal of Storion Energy is to help battery manufacturers in the U.S. overcome challenges in sourcing affordable electrolyte for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), which are used in long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications.
Storion Energy uses the Earth to Energy™ model, which combines access to high-quality vanadium from the only vanadium mine in the Western Hemisphere with domestic electrolyte production. This approach creates a fully integrated supply chain for utility-scale flow battery long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions. Storion will utilize Stryten’s unique reactor design and Largo Physical Vanadium Corp.’s vanadium electrolyte leasing capabilities to provide vanadium electrolyte for less than $0.02 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
This solution helps meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Long Duration Storage Shot goal of reducing the levelized cost of storage (LCOS) to $0.05/kWh by the end of the decade. With this affordable domestic supply chain, the U.S. is positioned to lead in critical energy infrastructure and enable the widespread adoption of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB).
Currently, vanadium electrolyte makes up a significant part of the cost of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems, depending on the market price of vanadium. Largo Physical Vanadium offers a unique vanadium leasing model, allowing investors to invest in physical vanadium assets that are stored in VRFBs. This model helps reduce the cost of acquiring vanadium, a critical mineral used in VRFB solutions, while also increasing demand for vanadium. Storion Energy will have exclusive rights to market vanadium electrolyte made from LPV-owned vanadium.
Mike Judd, President and CEO of Stryten Energy, mentioned, “This is the moment to capitalize on a new clean energy era not dominated by foreign sources. VRFB technology will completely replace lithium in the utility arena in the next five years given its ability to support the deployment of renewables that will provide energy for data centers, AI, green hydrogen production and other commercial-industrial applications. Storion will be able to serve this market opportunity with a competitively priced and domestically manufactured source for LDES solutions.”
Francesco D’Alessio, President of LCE, stated, “Utilizing LPV’s vanadium electrolyte leasing capabilities is expected to create a path for a competitive VRFB pricing model to challenge the dominance of lithium for utility-scale deployments of 10 MWhs and greater. Following the installation of the largest VRFB in Europe by the team at LCE, the establishment of Storion’s cost-effective domestic supply chain for vanadium electrolyte presents a transformational opportunity to rapidly grow adoption of this technology and secure leadership for the U.S. in this critical infrastructure application.”
Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) technology is a safe and reliable solution for long-duration energy storage, providing more than four hours of storage to support grid stability and increase the use of renewable energy across the U.S. With proper maintenance, VRFBs can last over 20 years without the electrolyte losing storage capacity, making them a great match for the lifespan of wind and solar installations. The electrolyte in VRFBs is infinitely recyclable, and the battery offers an almost endless cycle life. Additionally, these systems can be scaled independently in both power and capacity, enabling significant cost reductions as discharge times increase. This makes VRFBs an ideal choice for large-scale, sustainable energy storage.
