Vanadium

Will the Norse goddess of fertility bring a bountiful future?

Vanadium represents a beautiful, understated opportunity. This rare, not naturally occurring metal does not corrode and is known for making things stronger, much stronger. It is auspiciously named after Freya, the Norse goddess of beauty and fertility. When extracted and added to water the range of colours from the many compounds signifies the beauty while its position as a world changer in energy, battery storage and green tech illustrates its potentiality. A silent contender to the future of renewable energy it is a strong example of mining as the bedrock of the future. Nearly all of what we use today, and in the future is a by-product of mining and the story of Vanadium tells a version of this fact. This understated element outperformed cobalt and lithium in price in 2017; yet, few know its use, and its story: such a small amount has such dramatic effect whether in steel, titanium, ceramics, glass, nanotechnology or transistors. It is wonderful that mining allows us to explore so much of the world and be relevant.

Vanadium is used mainly in steel, as an alloy to make steel far stronger and lighter. It is estimated that 85% of all Vanadium is used in this capacity but this is not just in infrastructure like bridges, and skyscrapers; but also, in medical tools, jet engines, solar panels, transistors and energy storage/batteries. This alloy has a proud history, Henry Ford was the first to use it on an industrial scale, in the 1908 Model T car chassis! It is commonly used in structural steel for buildings, aircraft, military and surgical equipment. If we look at China today and its incredible growth in infrastructure and its One Belt One Road Initiative the demand for copper, iron ore, and steel is incredible. In February, China announced stricter requirements for building code and Dmitry Glushakov of investment bank VTB Capital said in August, “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance “the new standard is dedicated to increase earthquake resistance of rebar used in construction.” An official at the China Iron & Steel Research Institute said that rebar and steel research could increase vanadium consumption by 30%. (INN)

Vanadium is chemical element #23 on the periodic table and is not naturally occurring but a by-product of mining for other minerals, elements and ores. To date, 85% is produced in 3 countries: Russia, China, and South Africa. My interest in Vanadium was only after speaking with David Morgan and reading his highly regarded The The The The The The The The The The The The The Morgan Report. The story of cobalt and lithium has been getting coverage with the public, not just because of their use in batteries, mobile phones, computers and electric cars but because of the promise of a cleaner future. Vanadium is more of a mystery; yet, it holds a greater potentiality towards cleaner, renewable energy storage and function. You are getting in ahead of the curve when you look at this opportunity.

My goal is not only to promote the mining sector covering amazing companies and opportunities just to make money but also draw attention to opportunities to invest in our future. Vanadium is poised to be the next generation energy story. We can take part in it by looking at mining companies that have a core foundation in infrastructure and sound business which mining provides, while exposing us to incredible future potentiality. The great upside to Vanadium comes in energy, in battery storage. Whether you are talking about nanotechnology where a freestanding nanowire could reduce the power demands of nano-resonators by a factor of one hundred; or if you are talking about large scale battery power storage.

Vanadium Flow Batteries, or Vanadium Redox Batteries are large, and best suited for industrial energy storage. The provide efficient, reliable and cleaner electrical energy storage. They can operate in extreme temperatures, they last longer and can be charged and discharged repeatedly without losing performance. They can store almost all their energy for up to 20 years. This is far more efficient than lithium-ion. They are non-flammable, compact, reusable, discharge 100% of the stored energy. Storing energy capacity is vital for solar and wind power. Studies gave shown that VRB can sustain the demands of storing energy that might be produced at one time of day while demand is required at another.

According to the U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive U.S. Energy Storage Monitor Q3 2017 Executive Summary report, lithium-ion batteries hold roughly 94.2% of the market in 2017. Vanadium-redox flow batteries held 5%. This is a huge opportunity for growth.

In Dailan, China the worlds largest battery, a vanadium redox battery about 10 times the size of Elon Musk’s lithium battery. This project alone will require an additional 7,500 tonnes of vanadium.

There are Canadian companies in this sector or exposed in part to Vanadium namely: Largo Resources, Vanadium Corp resources, Berkwood Resources, Sparton Resources, Nevado Resources, Northern Shield Resources, and Noront Resources. If you are looking for a detailed analysis and specific recommendation go to the Morgan Report you can get access to a detailed analysis on a specific opportunity with an emerging player in the space.

The future is exciting, and times we forget that by investing in core business like mining we are building the foundation of civilization. This sector should be acknowledged for it its role in creating our world, literally, physically; as well as sharpening brilliant minds with the building blocks to incredible discoveries and technologies. Imagine supplying the greatest minds the resources they need for energy storage, quantum computing, nanotechnology and the future of renewable energy. Imagine being a part of that necessary and marvelous future.