TNG Ltd pursues green energy initiatives as workstreams continue at Mount Peake

In parallel with developing its Mount Peake titanium, vanadium and iron operation in the Northern Territory, TNG Ltd (ASX: TNG) is advancing a number of green energy initiatives.

The company plans to use both vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) and green hydrogen technology as part of its power supply mix for the proposed Mount Peak operation.

From Mount Peake, TNG plans to produce up to 6,000 tonnes per annum of high purity vanadium, as well as titanium dioxide pigment and iron ore fines.

Vanadium electrolyte and VRFBs

While vanadium is critical in the steel industry, it has an emerging market in energy storage where it is converted to vanadium electrolyte for use in VRFBs.

VRFBs are used to store renewable energies and offer numerous benefits for large-scale energy storage, including 20-year-plus life spans, scalability, low maintenance, non-flammability, ability to discharge without battery damage, and recovering and reuse of the vanadium electrolyte at the end of the battery’s life.

TNG noted these benefits are directly applicable to its Mount Peake operation, which has a proposed 37-year mine life and significant annual power requirement.

While using VRFB technology to power Mount Peake, TNG also plans to capitalise on forecast global demand in this battery sector.

This will be undertaken through its vanadium energy strategy which aims to produce vanadium electrolyte for the batteries as well as commercialising VRFBs in Australia.

To produce vanadium electrolyte, the company has completed a technology process and design study that has determined the preferred methods.

The company has also partnered with Singapore-based V-Flow Tech to supply VRFB batteries.

As part of this, TNG is finalising arrangements with a Northern Territory university to undertake a battery trial to test performance of a V-Flow VRFB battery in a microgrid setting.

This trial is expected to provide independent validation of the battery’s technical performance, which will underpin commercialisation.

Further work on the viability of a full-scale vanadium electrolyte facility at Mount Peake as well as using VRFBs as a power source will comprise process design and engineering, definition of non-process infrastructure, capital and operating cost estimates, project scheduling and planning.

Green hydrogen

While advancing its VRFB and vanadium electrolyte assessments, TNG is also developing the HySustain Darwin project in joint venture with Malaysia-based AGV Energy & Technology.

The duo inked a project development agreement last year to jointly develop the HySustain Darwin green hydrogen project to service Australia, Malaysian, Japanese and Korean markets.

Under the agreement, the companies are proposing to develop a large-scale facility based on AGV’s HySustain technology to produce green hydrogen using electrolysis of demineralised water and renewable energy.

The facility will be based in Darwin’s Middle Arm Industrial Precinct and produce about 110,000tpa of green hydrogen.

TNG and AGV are advancing a commercial study for the project and have initiated early engagements with potential offtake parties and financiers.

The project will also help TNG verify the technology for incorporation at Mount Peake, which will be investigated.