Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and VFT, a 2018 NTU spin-off, have launched a four-year research collaboration worth SGD 15 million focused on vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB). The joint laboratory was presented at the Asia Clean Energy Summit, with the university publishing the programme parameters on 27 October 2026.
Targeting next-generation grid batteries
The lab will work on VRFB systems, which store energy in aqueous electrolytes held in external tanks. The research aims to improve the performance and commercial readiness of flow batteries for grid-scale storage.
Technical scope
The teams will focus on several areas: improving battery stacks and cooling to raise efficiency; power conversion and control/management systems; and the use of artificial intelligence to monitor operation, detect faults and predict maintenance needs. The programme also includes a study of recovering and recycling vanadium from industrial waste and alternative sources. The laboratory aims to produce prototypes for subsequent validation in commercial systems.
'The collaboration targets next-generation grid batteries based on vanadium redox flow chemistry.' — EnergyNews.bg
Industrial backing
VFT was founded in 2018 as a university spin-off. In 2025 it raised USD 20.5 million for manufacturing and deployment of its vanadium flow battery systems. The new lab combines academic research with a company already working on commercial deployment.
The SGD 15 million programme is significant for the flow battery sector in Southeast Asia. It addresses several practical barriers: stack efficiency, system control, maintenance and vanadium supply. Vanadium recycling could reduce reliance on primary mining and improve lifecycle economics. The lab's success will be measured by whether its prototypes move into commercial validation and deployment.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.