CLIENT: Australian Vanadium Limited听
SECTOR: Resources听
REGION: Wangara, Western Australia
The Wangara Vanadium Electrolyte Facility project focuses on producing high-purity vanadium electrolyte for vanadium flow batteries (VFBs) to meet the rising demand for battery energy storage systems. It involved building a cutting-edge processing plant to convert vanadium oxides into vanadium electrolyte. The facility is pivotal in advancing renewable energy technologies by ensuring a steady supply of vanadium electrolyte, crucial for the efficient, long-lasting, and scalable operation of VFBs.听
OUR INVOLVEMENT:听听
Umwelt was engaged to advise if any environmental approvals were required before construction of the facility. We confirmed that assessment under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 was not required, and there was no requirement for a native vegetation clearing permit as it was an existing warehouse facility.听听
We undertook a review against the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) framework under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. This included detailed review of the expected environmental emissions and discharges. Our review and discussion with the client determined that it was unlikely that the facility would cause emissions or discharges to the environment. Based on the low likelihood of emissions and the small production capacity, we concluded that a works approval was not required to construct the facility. However, a trade waste permit was required for discharge of wastewater to the sewer from a business facility that was not an office.听听听
OUTCOME: 听
The client obtained the relevant trade waste permit and constructed and commissioned the Wangara Vanadium Electrolyte Facility, which was formally opened in January 2024 by the Federal Resources Minister.
