Matt Harper -- Flow Battery Progress

What this episode covers

Matt Harper is the President of Invinity Energy Systems, the maker of vanadium-flow batteries. Matt was on the podcast in 2022 and now provides an update. A strong alternative to lithium-ion batteries, the benefits of flow batteries produced by Invinity are numerous: "Unlimited cycling" (30-year lifetimes with 20,000+ cycles); they can discharge 8 - 10 hours every day; they have zero fire risk; and Invinity units are modular and stackable. Furthermore, vanadium is the 13th most common metallic element in the Earth's crust. There is more vanadium than copper or nickel, and Matt notes that it is found everywhere. The end result is that Invinity's flow batteries have the lowest lifecycle MWh delivered cost for energy storage.Invinity now has 190 MWh of installed systems and in construction all over the world. Matt details 96 installations in 17 countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Hungary. In fact, right after the podcast recording, Matt is flying off to India, a country that is in great need for clean energy resources... and long duration energy storage will play a pivotal role there. Ted asks about Hungary why Matt has called it a "hotbed" for flow batteries. Matt describes the country's impressive view of grid infrastructure and how the government stepped in there to stabilize and optimize its power grid. Matt also describes Invinity's work in Australia, home to one of Invinity's largest projects. He also provided an update on an intriguing Scottish project where Invinity batteries are buffering between tidal power and electrolyzing hydrogen 24*7, a project where tidal power is harvesting the ebb and flow of the tides. Matt calls this a "punishing duty cycle," well suited to flow batteries.The conversations shifts to the United States where Invinity is currently starting 3 - 4 projects that rely on long-term storage. The batteries are supported by the California Energy Commission. Invinity provides products for grid-scale storage and directly to the commercial and industrial sector for behind the meter installations. Flow batteries are a nice fit for microgids and energy resilience... with projects at Harrah's Casino and at Pacific Northwest Labs. Another project that Matt describes is at a casino and resort outside of San Diego. There, tribal ownership seeks to achieve full energy sovereignty for its large load including one of the world/'s largest EV charging stations. This creates "an incredibly challenging duty cycle," again, quite perfect for flow batteries. Invinity is exploring expanding manufacturing in the U.S. to meet Production Tax Credits that accrue to manufacturers of energy storage, as well as tax credits for end-users when domestic content is higher. Matt notes that there are good sources of vanadium in the United States. And due to new regulations limiting emissions in maritime shipping, Invinity is exploring the use of waste stockpiles caused by stripping sulfur out of crude oil, laced with vanadium and other metals, potentially a new and attractive source of vanadium without additional mining and extraction.Matt and Ted conclude with a discussion of Invinity's future role. The next step is greater scale. Matt also points out that the utility grid policy conversation has moved from "net zero" to "zero zero," a time where there will be no offsets... only clean power stored and discharged to meet onsite consumption patterns or grid capacity and reliability. Clearly Invinity's role in this vision and transition is important and on the rise.

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