Two startups presenting gravity-based energy storage technologies for commercialisation have signed partnerships with major players in engineering and mining.

Advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) technology firm Hydrostor has signed a binding agreement with mining firm Perilya to progress the construction of a project in New South Wales, Australia.

Alinta Energy will deploy a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Western Australia at the site of one of its thermal power plants.

The lithium industry needs US$116 billion of investment to achieve the 5.7x ramp-up in production needed for 2030 decarbonisation goals, and prices may remain ‘tight’ in the coming years.

Lithium carbonate prices have started to creep back up again after coming down from 2022’s extreme highs, but the long-term outlook is one of downwards prices, research firm Fastmarkets said.

UGL has been selected to design, test and commission a BESS which will provide power for BHP’s iron ore port in Western Australia.

Samantha McGahan of Australian Vanadium on the electrolyte, which is the single most important material for making vanadium flow batteries.

Another serving of news in brief from around the world in energy storage.

CATL has committed to a carbon neutrality plan, identifying five ‘key links’ in its value chain to implement emissions reduction measures.

Elcora is developing a vanadium pentoxide plant in Morocco to complement raw materials extraction.