Msp Visits Scottish Flow Battery Factory Ahead Of Cop26 Conference
Invinity Energy Systems, a leading global manufacturer of flow batteries, has announced that it has more than doubled its global manufacturing capacity since the beginning of the year, following a period of significant growth.
Invinity manufactures utility-grade energy storage systems which utilise patented Vanadium Flow Battery (VFB) technology, one of the leading alternatives to lithium-ion battery technology, to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy globally.
To date, the company has over 25 megawatt-hours (MWh) of its batteries installed or under contract for delivery at more than 40 sites worldwide, including pioneering projects in Scotland, England, the USA and Australia which are currently under construction.
This growth, which has included significant upgrades to Invinity’s global manufacturing facilities, is the culmination of plans the Company set out in late 2020 when the London Stock Exchange listed manufacturer raised £22.5m of scale-up capital from retail and institutional investors.
The company was commended by Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Linlithgow Constituency and deputy Convener of the Net Zero Scottish Parliament Committee, following a visit to the Company’s manufacturing facility in Bathgate, West Lothian which took place yesterday.
The Bathgate facility plays a crucial role in assembling the battery systems for export to customers around the world. As part of its growth, Invinity has created more than 25 new green jobs in the West Lothian area, taking advantage of the high quality pool of labour present in the region. The Company’s staff includes many former oil and gas sector workers applying their skills to develop Invinity’s clean energy technology, supporting a burgeoning renewable energy economy in Scotland.
Renewable energy, and the energy storage required to deliver it on demand, will be a critical issue for national Governments attending the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this November. The meeting is just a short distance from Invinity’s Bathgate factory, emphasizing how cutting edge policy and manufacturing for the global clean energy transition can be developed together.
Fiona Hyslop commented: “I was very impressed by my visit to the Invinity Energy Facility. The progress of the company over recent years has created local job opportunities and grown new skills in the renewable energy industry which are essential to tackle the climate crisis and support our economic recovery from the pandemic.
“The Scottish Government aims to have 50% of our energy produced from renewable energy sources by 2030 and it is technology like this that will enable us to create a reliable energy system, whilst developing vital skills and jobs to lead the international roll out of clean technology.
“As global leaders attend the COP26 conference in Glasgow, it is exciting to see this facility in my constituency export innovative energy technology to support renewable energy around the world.”
Larry Zulch, CEO, Invinity Energy Systems said: “The past 18 months have been transformational for Invinity as we successfully established our ability to produce the first flow battery shipping globally as a standardized, factory-built product.
“The team at our Bathgate facility has been essential to the progress we’ve made as a company, a testament to their skills and commitment. Our expanding presence in Bathgate creates new jobs, supports the local economy and helps accelerate the national push towards green energy and green skills.
“Taking low-cost, low-carbon, but fundamentally intermittent energy and making it dispatchable through the use of large-scale, utility-grade energy storage is vital to achieving net-zero by 2050. We’re looking forward to continuing to expand our operational footprint in Scotland and internationally as flow batteries increasingly become recognised as a leading solution to meeting aggressive climate targets.”
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