Singapore-based energy storage firm, VFlowTech, partners with Monash University to advance rechargeable batteries – EQ Mag

Singapore : VFlowTech, a Singapore-based provider of sustainable energy storage solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with Monash University as they embark on a project that will advance rechargeable batteries for renewable energy storage. This partnership will include an AU$510,000 grant awarded by Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project (LP) to Monash University and contribution from VFlowTech that will be used for joint research and development efforts in the field of improving the performance of flow batteries for high temperature operation.

The ARC Linkage Grant program is highly competitive and is awarded to companies that can demonstrate exceptional innovation and potential for real-world impact. Monash University and VFlowTech’s successful grant application is a testament to both organisations’ expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing the energy storage industry.

Under this grant, VFlowTech will collaborate with Monash University’s renowned team including Professor Douglas MacFarlane, Associate Professor Alexandr Simonov and Dr. Tam Nguyen. As esteemed experts in the field of material science, electrochemistry, and energy storage, their extensive knowledge and experience will be invaluable in driving the success of this project.

From a technical standpoint, this project aims to develop high-performance electrolytes for vanadium redox flow batteries. With a focus on enhancing efficiency and sustainability, this means that VFlowTech and Monash University will aim to increase the efficiency of rechargeable batteries to push the working capacity of energy storage technology at high temperatures. The single overarching goal is to contribute to the global transition towards clean and renewable energy sources.

Commenting on the grant, Dr Arjun Bhattarai, CTO of VFlowTech said, “The development of a new high-performance electrolyte composition for vanadium redox flow batteries is crucial in enhancing the robustness and efficiency of our technology, particularly in the rising temperatures today. By pushing the operational limits from 55°C to 60°C, we aim to unlock the full potential of energy storage, providing a sustainable and scalable solution for the transition to renewable energy sources.”

Dr. Tam Nguyen, Monash University’s ARC Early Career Industry Fellow, who will also be overseeing this project, shared, “My team and I are delighted to be working with VFlowTech on this groundbreaking project. Together, we aim to contribute to the advancement of sustainable energy storage solutions.”

Dr. Avishek Kumar, CEO of VFlowTech added, “By harnessing the synergy between academia and industry, we are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in energy storage. We see tremendous opportunities in Australia and a strong future for uptake of the battery. Furthermore, this collaboration will set the stage for our potential expansion into the Australian market, enabling us to explore local manufacturing opportunities and establish further strategic partnerships.”

About VFlowTech

VFlowTech is a Singapore-based long duration energy storage solutions provider manufacturing low-cost and efficient modular vanadium redox flow batteries. VFlowTech’s long-term vision is to drive the world towards energy equity where everyone can access clean energy at affordable pricing. With a 25-year expected lifespan, VFlowTech has one of the safest and most environmentally friendly battery technologies. VFlowTech was incubated in the CleanTech lab of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, and benefits from unique IP arising from many years of intensive research at the university. VFlowTech batteries can store renewable energy over long-duration and are designed to address issues of performance degradation, thermal runaway, and product reliability on safety.

About Dr. Avishek Kumar

Dr Avishek is CEO and Co-Founder of VFlowTech Pte Ltd. Dr Avishek holds MS degree in Microelectronics from Technical University of Munich, Germany and a Doctorate degree (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National University of Singapore. Dr Avishek has a deep background in manufacturing and detailed domain knowledge of the renewable energy industry. Dr Avishek was one of the chief architects for developing high efficiency PERC Mono modules and has played a key role in the commercialization of Half cut PERC Mono modules for REC solar. He is actively involved in consultation and development of solar plus energy storage projects across the region.

About Dr. Arjun Bhattarai

Dr. Arjun Bhattarai is the Co-Founder and CTO at VFlowTech, with more than 10 years of experience with flow batteries and fuel cells. Dr Arjun as a strong background in renewable energy technologies and completed his PhD from NTU on improving redox flow battery performance. He also has a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with Specialisation on Energy and Environment from the University of Duisburg-Essen, and a Doctorate degree in Energy Storage, Material Science and Vanadium Redox Flow Battery from Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

About Dr. Tam Nguyen.

Dr Tam D. Nguyen is currently a Scientist at Energys Australia P/L, working in a collaboration project in School of Chemistry, Monash University. He obtained his PhD degree in Materials Science from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore in 2018. His major research interests are in materials and technologies for renewable energy transformation and storage, including practical battery energy storage, green hydrogen production, and smart materials for energy conservation. Dr Nguyen also actively engages with industry to translate the outcomes of his innovative research to technologies of applied significance. Currently, he is a scientific advisor for VFlowTech Pte Ltd (Singapore) and will conduct his ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship at Monash University in January 2024.

About Professor Doug MacFarlane

Professor Doug MacFarlane is Head of the Energy Program in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science. He is currently researching materials that will enable new pathways to generate energy and fuel from sustainable resources (e.g. the sun) and materials that are currently waste or pollutants (e.g. CO2 gas). One of his main focus areas within ACES will be the generation of ‘Solar Fuels’ from nothing more than CO2, water and sunlight.

He was elected to the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2007 and to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2009. He is currently Chair of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Australian Journal of Chemistry and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Chemical Communications – the flagship journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Green Chemistry. He holds Adjunct appointments at the University of Alabama and Queens University, Belfast.

About Associate Professor Alexandr N. Simonov

Associate Professor Alexandr N. Simonov is a physical chemist specialising in (photo)electrochemistry and (photo)electrocatalysis. He is currently an Australian Research Council Future Fellow and Associate Professor at the School of Chemistry, Monash University. His major research focuses on understanding and designing new effective ways to generate and use renewable electricity for the sustainable chemistry technologies, in particular for the synthesis of green hydrogen, ammonia and fertilisers. He collaborates with Australian and German industry on several projects aiming to develop cost-effective electrolysers. He is a co-founder of a spin-out company Jupiter Ionics Pty Ltd. working on the commercialisation of the Monash green ammonia technologies.