JTC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with energy infrastructure firm Advario Asia Pacific (Advario) and Singapore-headquartered energy storage firm VFlowTech to collaborate on scaling up vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) capacity for clean energy storage on Jurong Island.
VRFB is a type of rechargeable flow battery, known for its long-duration energy storage capability.
Under the MOU, the three parties will explore using Advario’s tank infrastructure to scale VFlowTech’s VRFB technology up to 40 megawatt-hours (MWh), about 25 times its current capacity. This is equivalent to powering over 3,000 4-room HDB flats daily.
The large-scale deployment aims to help optimise the storage of excess electricity generated across Singapore, particularly from renewable sources like solar, for use by the national grid during peak demand periods.
According to an Oct 22 announcement, the deployment will help manage fluctuations in energy consumption and enhance demand response, stabilising the grid by discharging power when consumption is high and charging during periods of lower demand.
This will ensure a more reliable and efficient energy supply as Singapore continues to increase its renewable energy generation, say the three parties. In addition, the vanadium electrolytes required by the large-scale flow battery could be produced from recycled industrial waste, which enhances circularity on Jurong Island.
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The MOU signing follows an innovation call, the Jurong Island Renewable Energy request for proposal (JI RFP), launched in October 2021 by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and JTC, with support from Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG).
The innovation call connected industry stakeholders, academia and government agencies with the goal of test-bedding innovative clean energy solutions on Jurong Island, supporting the island’s transformation into a sustainable energy and chemicals park. The Advario-VFlowTech project was successfully awarded under this innovation call.
Bas Verkooijen, CEO of Advario, says: “This project showcases Singapore’s leadership in building strong public-private partnerships to push boundaries and accelerate the energy transition on Jurong Island. We are proud to support this initiative, bringing our terminal design and operating expertise to develop innovative solutions that contribute to a sustainable energy future for Singapore.”
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Avishek Kumar, CEO of VFlowTech, says: “Bringing together various stakeholders is essential to drive innovation. Our partnership with Advario, supported by agencies like JTC, EMA and EnterpriseSG, has demonstrated how collaboration can help scale and deploy advanced technologies for real-world impact.”
Tan Boon Khai, CEO of JTC, says: “Jurong Island serves as a living testbed and model for clean energy innovation. The MOU underscores the energy and chemicals industry’s commitment to transit towards a low-carbon economy. We are happy to support Advario and VFlowTech to accelerate the development of scalable clean energy solutions and we welcome more of such partnerships as we collectively tackle the complex challenge of industry decarbonisation.”
