Latest news with #AvishekKumar
Tahawul Tech
06-08-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Interview: VFlowTech CEO believes their technology can meet Middle East renewable energy demands
CNME Editor Mark Forker, sat down with Avishek Kumar, CEO and co-founder of Singaporean-based deep tech company VFlowTech, to learn about the company's expansion plans in the Middle East, and how its unique rugged, rigorous and innovative battery technology can meet the renewable energy demands and decarbonisation targets across the region. Avishek Kumar, is the CEO and co-founder of deep tech company VFlowTech. VFlowTech was established in 2018, and is headquartered in Singapore. The company is on a mission to reinvent long duration energy storage with innovative technologies designed to develop affordable and scalable vanadium redox flow batteries. Under Kumar's fearless leadership and drive the company has enjoyed huge market success in Singapore, and now the plan is to replicate that success in the UAE, and across the Middle East region. The United Arab Emirates is undoubtedly leading the region's clean energy transition, whilst Saudi Arabia has also made no secret around its ambitions to decarbonise. However, with grid instability on the rise, a surge in demand for infrastructure like AI-driven datacentres, which is energy intensive, achieving these decarbonisation targets is challenging. VFlowTech enters the Middle East region off the back of a successful $20.5m funding round. Kumar kickstarted the conversation by highlighting the impact VFlowTech has had in Singapore. 'I have a PhD in solar, and the fact of the matter is when solar became cheap, it became unsustainable, and it was evident that you needed batteries. We developed our technology in Singapore, and Singapore is our primary market. We've been able to successfully deploy our batteries in key use-cases – and we're powering Singapore 24/7 with our battery technology, enabling really long durations and sowing a commercial fibre application on the grid,' said Kumar. Kumar added that the company has a factory in India, and they are engaged in key projects in both the mining and utility industries. Kumar highlighted that the ability of the battery to work in inclement weather conditions is a key market differentiator for them. 'One of the key advantages of our battery is that it can work in incredibly harsh and humid climates. Our battery can operate up to 55-degree ambient, which is a key USP for us as a technology player. Now, anyone that has been following the Middle East marketplace will be aware that the region has seen an unprecedented deployment of renewable energy. Saudi Arabia has announced its ambition to go net-zero, so the deployment of renewable energy is only going to soar and the demand is there. There is an abundance of solar energy, so you will need a lot of batteries, and there has been a big play into lithium-ion technology, but lithium-ion technology has its limitations. You need proper air-conditioning and cooling, so in a harsh climate like the Middle East, lithium-ion technology is limited,' said Kumar. Kumar was quick to point out that VFlowTech has already enjoyed success in the Middle East marketplace. 'Last year, we entered into a partnership with a prominent local company that is looking to provide innovative energy storage solutions in desalination plants, and as we speak, we have our first battery in the KSA. A leading utility in the Middle East has put up a tender for flow batteries, and that is something that we are looking to participate in as well. We are happy that we have anchored many early opportunities in the Middle East,' said Kumar. The conversation then shifted towards the industry verticals VFlowTech is targeting across the Middle East, and outside of renewable energy, utilities and net zero steel are both going to be a key area of focus for the company. 'There are 2-3 key industry verticals for us, but undoubtedly one of them is utilities, and utilities are going to need larger batteries. There have been a number of tenders put out for solar plus batteries which indicates growing demand. We are also looking at net zero steel and steel manufacturing and that's a market where there is growing potential to have solar plus batteries deliver net zero power, so we believe there are a lot of opportunities in the steel manufacturing industry,' said Kumar. The UAE Stargate project has been designed to help the country become a global leader in AI. However, the sheer volume and scale of infrastructure required to power that project is off the scale, but again the datacentre space offers another opportunity for the battery technology produced by VFlowTech. 'We can deliver net zero power to datacentres, and again, this is a space we're focusing on. Saudi Arabia's NEOM project is being built up, but with NEOM there is a huge economy of clean energy, which will require batteries, and our batteries can deliver long-duration cycles. Our batteries can charge in the daytime when there's an abundance of sun, anywhere from 8-10 hours, and then can be charged for 10-12 hours which makes the technology much more suitable for scale,' said Kumar. Kumar added that they have plans to scale manufacturing locally using vanadium. 'We use vanadium, and vanadium is found in petroleum waste, and as we know the Middle East is rich in crude oil. We're also exploring opportunities to partner with a number of local refineries, where we can use the petroleum Sinder to see if there is any vanadium content that we can recover, and that will make localisation possible as the demand rises,' said Kumar. Kumar then highlighted a number of key differentiators that he believes makes vanadium redox flow batteries a much better option that lithium-ion batteries. 'There are multiple factors that contribute to vanadium redox flow batteries outperforming lithium-ion. Typically, a renewable energy plant has a lifetime of 25-30 years, and the lifetime cycle of flow batteries is also 30 years. Vanadium co-exists very effectively with renewable energy. From a safety perspective, there is a fire risk with lithium-ion batteries, and particularly when the temperature gets high the performance degrades significantly. Vanadium redox flow batteries are extremely safe, there is no risk of fire. One other key differentiator for us is performance. Lithium-ion is a good technology, but when it's working in hot and inclement climate conditions then the performance plummets. Ultimately, lithium-ion is not suitable for the Middle East region because of the climate here, it is made possible through advanced cooling technologies, but our technology does not need that advanced cooling technology. In addition to this, 99% of the low component that we use is easily recyclable, and the Middle East doesn't have a lot of lithium, so their local manufacturing content can be high vanadium, so these are all key enablers that make flow batteries more suitable for the Middle East marketplace,' said Kumar. Kumar said the company has engaged in talks with some major players in the energy sector in the Middle East, but explained that with a new technology there always has to be the proof-of-concept phase – but outlined his plans over the next 12 months for their market expansion in the Middle East. 'We have entered into early discussions with a few large independent power producers (IPP) in the region, but these are huge, huge players in the energy industry, so for a new relatively new market entrant like us, we have to work on pilots and proof-of-concepts to put our best foot forward. We have been working with smaller players in Saudi Arabia, and as I mentioned earlier, a prominent utility company has put out tenders for flow batteries, which indicates that they are evaluating technologies. Our approach this year in relation to the Middle East will be to establish an office, somewhere in either Saudi Arabia, or Dubai, build a pipeline, and generally, be much more active in the market. Our initial focus is to first streamline manufacturing because we are a technology leader in this space, and we need to create a supply chain and evolve as a manufacturing company. This year, we are all about execution and once we open an office we can build a pipeline, and when the pipeline is built, we'll explore manufacturing in the Middle East,' said Kumar.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
VFlowTech, IIT Delhi join hands to extract vanadium from refinery waste
Storage solutions provider VFlowTech on Tuesday announced a strategic collaboration with Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) for research into recovering high-purity vanadium from petcoke. The FITT is an industry interface of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ( IIT Delhi ). The initiative aims to establish India's first circular vanadium ecosystem , converting refinery waste into battery-grade vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) - a critical material used in next-generation long-duration batteries that support grid stability and renewable energy deployment, a statement said. According to the statement, this partnership sets the course for a circular, self-reliant vanadium ecosystem - one that turns waste into value, strengthens the domestic supply chain, and accelerates India's energy transition. Backed by its recent USD 20 million Series A+ funding, VFlowTech is investing in India's clean energy future by advancing local research and development capabilities, and supporting a 'Made-in-India' vanadium value chain for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). "India's refinery scale presents a unique opportunity to build a homegrown vanadium ecosystem. By repurposing waste into battery materials, we're addressing energy security and industrial sustainability in one step," Avishek Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of VFlowTech, said. The waste from the refineries produces large amounts of petcoke cinder, which contains significant vanadium content. This collaboration will fill that gap by extracting vanadium domestically from petcoke waste , advancing both economic and environmental sustainability. "By establishing India's first circular vanadium ecosystem, we aim to support the vision of creating renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030," said Anil Verma from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Delhi. As per the industry estimates, the statement said, the global VRFB manufacturing market is on the verge of robust growth between 2025 and 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20-25 per cent. Industry projections highlight that the revenue from VRFB manufacturing will surpass USD 2 billion by 2030. Established in 2018, VFlowTech is a deep tech company pioneering vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems and hybrid batteries for long-duration energy storage.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
VFlowTech, IIT Delhi join hands to extract vanadium from refinery waste
Storage solutions provider VFlowTech on Tuesday announced a strategic collaboration with Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) for research into recovering high-purity vanadium from petcoke. The FITT is an industry interface of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ( IIT Delhi ). Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Others Data Science Cybersecurity Digital Marketing PGDM MBA Data Analytics MCA Public Policy Finance CXO Product Management Design Thinking Leadership Project Management Data Science healthcare Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details The initiative aims to establish India's first circular vanadium ecosystem , converting refinery waste into battery-grade vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) - a critical material used in next-generation long-duration batteries that support grid stability and renewable energy deployment, a statement said. According to the statement, this partnership sets the course for a circular, self-reliant vanadium ecosystem - one that turns waste into value, strengthens the domestic supply chain, and accelerates India's energy transition. Backed by its recent USD 20 million Series A+ funding, VFlowTech is investing in India's clean energy future by advancing local research and development capabilities, and supporting a 'Made-in-India' vanadium value chain for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Live Events "India's refinery scale presents a unique opportunity to build a homegrown vanadium ecosystem. By repurposing waste into battery materials, we're addressing energy security and industrial sustainability in one step," Avishek Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of VFlowTech, said. The waste from the refineries produces large amounts of petcoke cinder, which contains significant vanadium content. This collaboration will fill that gap by extracting vanadium domestically from petcoke waste , advancing both economic and environmental sustainability. "By establishing India's first circular vanadium ecosystem, we aim to support the vision of creating renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030," said Anil Verma from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Delhi. As per the industry estimates, the statement said, the global VRFB manufacturing market is on the verge of robust growth between 2025 and 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20-25 per cent. Industry projections highlight that the revenue from VRFB manufacturing will surpass USD 2 billion by 2030. Established in 2018, VFlowTech is a deep tech company pioneering vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems and hybrid batteries for long-duration energy storage.
News18
29-07-2025
- Business
- News18
VFlowTech, IIT Delhi join hands to extract vanadium from refinery waste
New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) Storage solutions provider VFlowTech on Tuesday announced a strategic collaboration with Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) for research into recovering high-purity vanadium from petcoke. The FITT is an industry interface of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). The initiative aims to establish India's first circular vanadium ecosystem, converting refinery waste into battery-grade vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) – a critical material used in next-generation long-duration batteries that support grid stability and renewable energy deployment, a statement said. According to the statement, this partnership sets the course for a circular, self-reliant vanadium ecosystem – one that turns waste into value, strengthens the domestic supply chain, and accelerates India's energy transition. Backed by its recent USD 20 million Series A+ funding, VFlowTech is investing in India's clean energy future by advancing local research and development capabilities, and supporting a 'Made-in-India' vanadium value chain for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). 'India's refinery scale presents a unique opportunity to build a homegrown vanadium ecosystem. By repurposing waste into battery materials, we're addressing energy security and industrial sustainability in one step," Avishek Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of VFlowTech, said. The waste from the refineries produces large amounts of petcoke cinder, which contains significant vanadium content. This collaboration will fill that gap by extracting vanadium domestically from petcoke waste, advancing both economic and environmental sustainability. 'By establishing India's first circular vanadium ecosystem, we aim to support the vision of creating renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030," said Anil Verma from the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Delhi. As per the industry estimates, the statement said, the global VRFB manufacturing market is on the verge of robust growth between 2025 and 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20-25 per cent. Industry projections highlight that the revenue from VRFB manufacturing will surpass USD 2 billion by 2030. Established in 2018, VFlowTech is a deep tech company pioneering vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems and hybrid batteries for long-duration energy storage. PTI KKS SHW (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 14:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
India needs battery technology beyond lithium, says industry experts
New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) India needs to explore battery technologies other than lithium-ion, which is currently leading the industry due to its high storage capacity and quick charging, suggested experts participating in India Energy Storage Week. This assumes significance as the electric vehicle (EV) market is gaining significant traction in the country, paving the way for a more sustainable future. Batteries are one of the key components of EVs, with Li-ion technology currently leading the industry due to its high energy density and quick charging, a statement said. However, it stated that concerns over the limited availability of raw materials for these batteries could create production challenges and potential shortages. This highlights the urgent need for alternative battery technologies. Researchers and experts are actively exploring innovative solutions, with Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB), thermo-mechanical systems, and sodium-ion technologies emerging as promising developments that could transform the EV industry and drive the next generation of electric vehicles. VRFB is a rechargeable energy storage solution that leverages vanadium ions for enhanced longevity. The global market for VRFB was valued at USD 394.7 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.7 per cent from 2024 to 2030. Concerning this, industry experts and leaders highlighted that "India needs battery technology beyond Lithium-ion", at India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025, organised by industry body India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) from July 8-11. Industry experts demanded that India needs to expand non-lithium energy storage technologies to address its rapidly growing and diverse energy demands. They emphasised the necessity for alternative solutions to ensure grid stability, meet industrial loads, and promote clean mobility. Avishek Kumar, Co-founder and CEO of VFlowTech, emphasised, "While lithium-ion batteries have reached the mass adoption stage, there is a growing need to diversify energy storage solutions." India should look beyond lithium. Highlighting the rise of sodium-ion batteries as a cost-effective, temperature-resilient alternative ideal for stationary applications, William Tope, CEO of LiNa Energy, said, "As we start to move towards very high penetrations of intermediate renewable generation, the importance of other battery industries and long duration energy storage to load shift at large scale from the off peak period to the peak period is incredibly important." Paul Smith of Energy Dome said the company's CO2-based CEAS storage is a market-ready solution that scales up to 1 GWh, which is now entering India through a partnership with NTPC. Gunjan Kapadia, Co-founder and CEO of Sthyr Energy, introduced its zinc-air battery technology, which offers long-duration storage of 10-24 hours to support deeper discharge cycles. "As we increase more and more renewables in the system, we need to have more storage in the system to balance the renewables," Saurav Mitra, Director at Sumitomo SHI FW, said, adding that "for this, we need innovative storage solutions like thermo-mechanical systems." He further demonstrated Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) as a thermo-mechanical, zero-critical-mineral solution with 80 per cent component sourcing already in India.
