Rio Tinto has announced the latest steps in its plan to deploy 1GW of renewable energy for its operations in Pilbara, Australia.

Japanese petroleum firm Idemitsu has invested in a vanadium mining, processing and electrolyte production project in Australia, while two other major vanadium projects have progressed.

Australian mining group BHP will use a 45MW solar, 35MW battery energy storage system from Alinta Energy to halve emissions at its WA Iron Ore port facilities at Port Headland by end-2024.

The Australia-based Electric Mine Consortium is seeking long duration energy storage solutions to help with decarbonising mining operations.

SPAC Mustang Energy PLC is increasing its effective stake in CellCube to around 25% while a company launching a vanadium mine project in Australia has injected US$3.5 million in a new flow battery maker.

Ambri has received an order in South Africa for a 300MW energy storage system based on its proprietary liquid metal battery technology.

Hitachi Energy will power the US’ first-ever primary vanadium source entirely from renewable energy in a partnership with Nevada Vanadium.

Hybrid projects in Australia have enabled a gold mine and a remote township to run at 50% or more average penetration of renewable energy. 

A public consultation period has opened on plans for a vast renewable energy project including large-scale battery storage which would be used to power mining operations for Australian metals company Fortescue. 

Three recent interesting steps forward on lithium battery sustainability, a growing concern and area of interest for the clean energy sector.