15:40:48 EDT Thu 28 Mar 2024
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Sparton Resources Inc
Symbol SRI
Shares Issued 139,455,923
Close 2021-06-29 C$ 0.09
Market Cap C$ 12,551,033
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Sparton crosses fingers for ban on lithium-based ESS

2021-06-30 10:39 ET - News Release

Mr. Lee Barker reports

SPARTON RESOURCES INC. ANNOUNCES POSSIBLE CHINA BAN ON LITHIUM BASED LARGE SCALE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

Sparton Resources Inc. has commented on recent media articles related to large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) and energy storage technology.

The company currently owns, through its subsidiary VanSpar Mining Inc., a 9.8-per-cent equity interest in VRB Energy Inc., a leading manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries for large-scale energy storage related to clean renewable electricity generation (see Sparton news release dated March 16, 2021).

Possible ban on lithium-based large-scale ESS in China

As reported on June 25, 2021, by the Chinese Media Group Caixing and United Kingdom-based Energy Storage Publishing, "China is on the verge of banning the use of second-life lithium-ion batteries in large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) amid a spate of fires this year."

In January, an explosion at a China recycling plant owned by lithium-ion battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) killed one person and injured 19 more.

In April, two firefighters died when they were putting out a fire in an energy storage power station in the Fengtai district of Beijing, according to the China Daily news outlet.

The halt is expected to continue until a "breakthrough in battery consistency management technology and a sound power battery performance testing and evaluation system is developed," according to Caixing.

The ceasing of lithium secondary battery use follows the National Energy Administration issuance of a draft report entitled "Regulations for the Management of New Energy Storage Projects" on June 22, 2021.

Vanadium flow batteries produced by VRB, which are an alternative ESS technology to lithium, are not explosive or a fire hazard, and are fully recyclable.

Recent ESS research report

On June 21, 2021, Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd., an Asian-based research group, released a comprehensive report mentioning key players in the ESS space and projecting that these companies could generate up to $19.7-billion (U.S.) of energy storage business by the year 2027. The report also mentions VRB as one of the leading players and comments on the slowdown in the industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, which is now easing. The report provides a detailed analysis of several factors, such as the key drivers and restraints that will impact ESS growth. Additionally, the report provides insights into the regional analysis that covers different geographic regions, contributing to the growth of the market. It includes the competitive landscape that involves the leading companies and the adoption of strategies to introduce new products, announce partnerships and collaborations that will further contribute to the market growth.

Discussion

"These announcements are expected to be very beneficial to VRB's energy storage business," stated Lee Barker, company chief executive officer. "Clearly the safety concerns associated with large-scale, lithium-based energy storage installations are now a major concern to the Chinese authorities and are being addressed by the halt in approval of new Li-type installations, and the orders to implement new safety regulations for their use.

"The market for large-scale ESS is expected to grow rapidly as countries and industrial enterprises begin to focus on the global use of renewable energy systems, and VRB is expected to be a key player in the ESS business in China as well internationally going forward."

There are a growing number of 100-megawatt renewable energy and flow battery projects under development in many provinces in China. Many of these provinces are mandating minimums of 5 to 20 per cent storage capacity to be integrated with new solar and wind power projects. Vanadium flow batteries have been recommended by the China central government as the technology of choice for large-scale integrated battery installations.

VRB Energy is now the leading contender for multiple 100-megawatt-class projects scheduled under China's infrastructure investment program, which is being accelerated as part of post-COVID economic stimulus. On the international front, VRB is in discussions with a number of developers and utilities in the United States, Australia and South Africa for large 100-megawatt-class systems. The energy storage industry and VRB are clearly supporting the continuing worldwide green energy revolution.

We seek Safe Harbor.

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