Innovating with Vanadium-Cerium Chemistry in Vietnam

Researchers from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology have successfully developed a low-cost, long-life flow battery designed specifically for large-scale renewable energy storage. Moving beyond traditional vanadium-only systems, this innovative battery utilizes a Vanadium-Cerium electrolyte. This strategic material choice leverages Vietnam's abundant cerium resources, which are mined by the Vietnam Rare Earths Joint Stock Company, a founding shareholder of the newly established spin-off company, BK PMST, which aims to bring this indigenous technology to the global market.

Commercialization and Pilot Deployment in Ben Tre

To accelerate the commercialization of this breakthrough technology, BK PMST has partnered with a local Vietnamese industrial partner. Together, they are constructing a 200kW/1MWh flow battery pilot system in Ben Tre province. This pilot is specifically engineered to deliver 4 to 5 hours of long-duration energy storage. Its primary application is to support the self-consumption of rooftop solar power within a local industrial park, demonstrating the practical viability of the Vanadium-Cerium chemistry in real-world commercial settings and proving its reliability for industrial energy management.

Superiority in Long-Duration Storage Applications

The development underscores the distinct advantages of flow batteries over conventional alternatives in the LDES sector. While lithium-ion batteries are highly effective for short-duration storage ranging from minutes to three hours, flow batteries are vastly superior for long-duration energy storage of 8 to 12 hours or daily cycles. Crucially, flow batteries offer significant cost advantages at the MWh scale. Energy capacity can be expanded simply by increasing the physical size of the electrolyte tanks, rather than the costly process of doubling the number of electrochemical cells.

While lithium-ion batteries are suited for short-duration storage, flow batteries are superior for long-duration energy storage of 8 to 12 hours, offering significant cost advantages at the MWh scale.

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