ESI Strengthens Position for Sustainable Iron Flow Batteries in Queensland

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Energy Storage Industries — Asia Pacific (ESI) has strengthened the position of iron flow battery technology to secure Queensland’s future as a renewable energy superpower.

The Queensland-based, Australian-owned company has achieved a series of milestones this year. The first of ESI’s long-duration, grid-scale batteries completed the final stage of commissioning, the first production batteries are now being transported to a customer’s pilot site and the company’s technology has been recognised by Queensland’s Deputy Premier.

ESI Managing Director Stuart Parry said the value of iron flow technology was being recognised across industry and government in Queensland and around Australia.

“Queensland is at the forefront of battery technology development and ESI is helping reinforce this state’s reputation as a leader in the renewable energy economy,” he said. “We will continue to deliver on the promise of our leading-edge technology, which is critical to supplying Queensland’s and Australia’s long-term low-carbon energy needs.”

In January an ESI battery completed commissioning at the National Battery Testing Centre at Banyo in Brisbane, where it demonstrated its capabilities to capture surplus energy and return it to the grid at peak times. During two months of examination by Queensland University of Technology experts, the battery proved to be more than capable of performing in Australia’s harsh conditions.

Later in January, ESI welcomed representatives leading energy operators including the Queensland Government-owned Stanwell Corporation, a major provider of electricity and energy solutions, to Banyo to inspect our fully recyclable technology.

At the same time, the next 10 battery systems manufactured by ESI’s partner ESS Inc. (NYSE: GWH) in the United States started their journey across the Pacific Ocean, bound for the first of our client pilot sites. Ten additional battery systems will follow in coming weeks. From 2024 onward iron flow batteries will be assembled at ESI’s $70 million manufacturing plant in Maryborough, where civil works are underway to support the facility’s construction. 

Deputy Premier Steven Miles visited ESI’s Maryborough site in January to launch Queensland’s Battery Strategy Discussion Paper to assess how the state can become a leader in energy storage technology. The paper highlighted the role of iron flow batteries in Queensland’s energy future. His visit was followed by Mike Kaiser, Director General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, who commented that large, grid-scale batteries will be in heavy demand in Queensland and around the world as global electricity grids shift to renewable energy.

Parry said: “We are grateful for the support of the Queensland Government in bringing this technology to scale. Localising assembly, testing and support will be critical to deploying at scale and the support we’ve received has been of immense value.”

ESI batteries will support customers and clients in wholesale electricity generation, energy retailers and customers in commercial and industrial sectors.