Four-year collaboration aims to advance large-scale energy storage to support growing renewable energy use and reduce battery fire risks
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), through its Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), and Singapore energy storage company VFT have launched a S$15 million joint research laboratory to develop safer, more durable and cost-effective batteries for storing renewable electricity and supporting future power grids.
The NTU-VFT Joint Lab will advance vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which use non-flammable, aqueous-based liquids to store energy, significantly reducing the risk of battery fires compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The technology is suited for large-scale energy storage, which is becoming increasingly important as power grids incorporate more intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Such batteries can store electricity when renewable generation is high and release it when needed, helping to maintain a reliable power supply.
The Joint Lab was launched at the Asia Clean Energy Summit, held as part of Singapore International Energy Week 2026.
Professor Madhavi Srinivasan, Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), said: "As the global energy transition accelerates, safe and efficient energy storage will become increasingly important to keeping electricity supplies stable and reliable. By combining NTU’s deep expertise in materials science, AI, energy technologies and sustainability with VFT's industry experience, we aim to develop safer, longer-lasting and sustainable batteries to power our future energy grid.
“VFT's journey shows how NTU's research can translate into real-world applications. What began as a spin-off from NTU working on their first generation of energy storage systems, has evolved into a company developing commercial energy-storage systems. We are glad to be working together with VFT once again to develop the next generation of energy storage solutions and drive further innovation."
Dr Vidal Bharath, Chief Executive Officer of VFT, said: “The challenge is no longer simply generating more renewable energy. Power systems also need safe, reliable and affordable ways to store that electricity for use when renewable generation falls or demand rises.
“By combining NTU's research capabilities with VFT’s experience in developing and deploying flow batteries, we aim to overcome the technical and cost barriers to wider adoption of new energy-storage technologies and accelerate commercial deployment.”
Advancing long-duration energy storage technologies
Founded in 2018, VFT is an NTU spin-off based on technology developed at ERI@N. The company raised US$20.5 million in 2025 to expand manufacturing and deployment of its flow-battery systems.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which store energy within battery cells, VRFBs store energy in liquid electrolytes held in external tanks. Their storage capacity can be increased by using larger tanks, making them suitable for storing and supplying electricity over extended periods.
Researchers at the Joint Lab will develop more powerful and efficient flow batteries, including improved battery stacks and cooling systems to manage heat and boost performance.
They will also explore ways to recover and recycle vanadium from industrial waste and alternative sources, potentially reducing costs and improving sustainability.
Other areas of research include improving power conversion and control systems to increase energy efficiency, and using artificial intelligence to monitor battery performance, detect faults and predict maintenance needs.
The four-year, S$15 million collaboration, supported under Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plans, aims to develop new intellectual property, prototypes and technologies that can be progressively validated and incorporated into future commercial energy-storage systems.
Beyond technology development, the Joint Lab will strengthen Singapore's talent and R&D capabilities in long-duration energy storage, helping the country transition towards cleaner and more resilient power systems.
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