India’s First Vanadium Flow Battery Launched at NTPC

New Delhi. India today achieved a significant milestone in its clean energy transition by commissioning the nation’s first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system. Power Minister Manohar Lal officially inaugurated the 3 MWh facility at NTPC NETRA (NTPC Ltd’s R&D centre) in Greater Noida. This installation immediately establishes India’s largest vanadium flow battery system and marks a crucial step in advancing indigenous long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies. Minister Lal visited the NTPC NETRA campus, reviewing the advanced energy research, accompanied by Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, Additional Secretary Piyush Singh, and NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh.

India’s First Vanadium Flow Battery: Advancing Storage Solutions

The introduction of the vanadium redox flow battery technology creates a new pathway for long-duration energy storage. It is essential for managing the inherent variability of renewable power generation, such as solar and wind energy. Unlike traditional lithium-ion systems, vanadium flow batteries utilise liquid electrolytes, enabling them to store energy for extended periods. This design offers a longer life cycle, enhanced safety features, and simplified scalability. The Minister emphasised that the project propels the nation toward robust LDES solutions, substantially enhancing renewable energy integration and promoting stronger grid resilience. So, the 3 MWh capacity of this flagship project provides a vital platform for real-world testing and validation of flow battery technology under Indian grid conditions.

Commending Innovation and Diversification

Minister Lal commended the dedication and research efforts of the NTPC NETRA team. He affirmed that this project perfectly reflects India’s rapidly growing innovation and technological capabilities within the clean energy sector. Pertinently, the Minister noted that NTPC’s ongoing advancements in key areas like energy storage, carbon capture, and green hydrogen are actively setting new industry benchmarks for sustainable development and energy transition across the entire power ecosystem.

The Minister further stated that innovative technologies like vanadium flow batteries diversify the range of materials available for battery manufacturing. This diversification crucially reduces India’s dependence on conventional lithium-ion systems, which face global supply chain pressures. It effectively broadens the country’s domestic supply chain options. During his comprehensive visit, Minister Lal also reviewed several other demonstration plants housed at NTPC NETRA, including the Green Hydrogen Mobility Plant, the STP Water-based Green Hydrogen Plant, and the Solid Oxide High-Temperature Steam Electrolyser, underscoring NTPC’s broad portfolio in decarbonisation research.

About the Author

Vishal Duggal

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Vishal Duggal possesses over two decades of journalistic experience across print and web domains. He headed the editorial team of "Sahara Time" a 48-page general interest English weekly newspaper. He was also a senior editor with Exchange4media group’s real estate magazine "Realty Plus" and prior to that Consulting Editor with "Geopolitics" a magazine on defence and strategic affairs, and Executive Editor with Pravasi Indians, a magazine on the global Indian diaspora. Currently, he lends his professional expertise to several publications and websites.

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