TNG Limited (ASX:TNG) (OTCMKTS:TNGZF) has taken another key step to progress its green energy strategy after reaching agreement with an international technology company and specialist in the green hydrogen sector to develop commercial opportunities using vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB).
The company has executed a Heads of Agreement with Malaysian-based AGV Energy & Technology Sdn Bhd to progress formal arrangements for collaboration on opportunities for the commercialisation of VRFB and technologies to produce green hydrogen.
AGV Energy and its partners are developing technology to produce green hydrogen and oxygen using the electrolysis of demineralised water and renewable energy (HySustain).
The HySustain technology is well advanced, based on the results from a test plant in Europe to validate its operational and commercial feasibility.
AGV Energy is also well advanced in discussions with potential hydrogen off-take partners in the Asia-Pacific region and is planning a phased rollout of the scalable HySustain technology, with the first commercial application planned at an advanced project in Malaysia (Malaysian Green Hydrogen Project).
“Step to reduce net carbon emissions”
TNG managing director and CEO Paul Burton said: “We are very pleased to have secured this Heads of Agreement with AGV Energy, opening up an exciting pathway to collaborate with them on the development of their exciting green hydrogen HySustain technology.
“HySustain is a great opportunity to showcase an integrated VRFB storage solution.
“We also intend to work with AGV Energy on the potential rollout of HySustain in Australia, given the significant momentum within Australia and the resources industry to move towards a hydrogen-based economy.
“Our collaboration with AGV Energy is an important further strategic step in our ongoing program to reduce our company’s net carbon emissions, including future emissions from our flagship Mount Peake Project, given the strong focus from environmental regulators on undertaking proactive measures to reduce carbon emissions globally and for companies to embrace world-leading ESG standards and practices.”
Progressing towards formal collaboration
Under the Heads of Agreement, TNG and AGV Energy intend to progress formal commercial arrangements for collaboration in three key proposed areas:
- Integration of VRFB into HySustain, including for its first commercial application initially at the Malaysian Green Hydrogen Project;
- Progression of opportunities for the rollout of HySustain in Australia; and
- Progression of opportunities for the rollout of VRFB in other commercial applications in Malaysia.
The parties are now advancing discussions to formalise business planning and commercial arrangements for collaboration in these areas.
Green hydrogen technology
Green hydrogen production is reliant on green electricity production from 100% renewable energy sources, and AGV Energy intends to utilise purpose-built, project-specific solar farms to provide the green electricity required for HySustain.
VRFB, which offer large, scalable and long-life energy storage for solar power generation, are AGV Energy’s preferred battery system for integration with HySustain.
Notably, this collaboration is separate to the work being undertaken by TNG and the SMS group for development of technology to produce green hydrogen for potential application as the reduction agent in TNG’s proposed TIVAN® processing technology and Mount Peake Project.
V-Flow HOA
Earlier this year, TNG entered into a Heads of Agreement for an incorporated joint venture with leading Singaporean-based battery technology development company V-Flow Tech Pte Ltd (V-Flow), with the intention of jointly developing a VRFB business initially targeting applications at remote regional sites in Australia and other commercial and residential applications using a fully-integrated VRFB storage solution - with TNG providing the high-purity vanadium electrolyte required to operate the batteries.
Negotiations between TNG and V-Flow on a formal joint venture arrangement are well advanced.
The agreement between TNG and AGV Energy represents an excellent and complementary opportunity for the TNG-V-Flow JV to develop and commercialise its planned VRFB product.