Background

As the global energy transition accelerates, all-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have emerged as a premier technological pathway for long-duration energy storage. By 2025, China is projected to add approximately 1GW/4.2GWh of new VRFB installed capacity. In June 2026, China's largest VRFB energy storage power station—Three Gorges Group's Xinjiang Jimsar 200MW/ 1GWh project—fully entered commercial operation, marking the industry's official transition into a new era of gigawatt-scale commercial operations.

Alongside rapid industrial expansion, VRFBs are making a critical leap from technical validation to large-scale application, with new trends and business models reshaping the industry landscape. Financial leasing models for electrolytes are gaining traction; since electrolytes account for 40%–50% of total system costs, operating leases—based on a "leasing instead of purchasing" approach—can reduce initial investment by 40%–50%, bringing upfront costs below 1 RMB/Wh. Continuous breakthroughs in core technologies—such as key advancements in stack scaling—have led to the release of the world's most powerful single VRFB stack (200 kW). This significantly lowers unit installation costs and system complexity, paving the way for broader commercial adoption.

Meanwhile, hybrid energy storage is emerging as a vital approach to optimize system cost-performance, where combined modes like "lithium-ion + flow battery" balance high power response with long-duration energy capacity to overcome single-technology bottlenecks. Chinese VRFB companies are also accelerating their global expansion; establishing a global footprint has become an inevitable choice for tapping into high-premium markets and achieving global growth. Furthermore, the integration of energy storage and AI computing centers is opening up incremental growth space, as VRFBs perfectly match the demand for uninterrupted power supply and peak-shaving in mission-critical digital infrastructure.

Amidst this industry transformation, the China International Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Forum 2026—co-hosted by ASIACHEM and Shanghai Electric Energy Storage and supported by Vanitec—will be held in Shanghai on November 19–20. The forum will delve into topics such as energy storage policies and markets, innovations in financial leasing for electrolytes, stack and short-process electrolyte technologies, hybrid energy storage case studies, overseas expansion strategies, and the integrated development of energy storage and AI computing power.

Topics

• Global Policy and Market Outlook for the VRFB Industry

• Technology Development and Cost Control for VRFB

• Vanadium Resources, Supply, Demand, and Price Trends

• Industrialization of Short-Process Electrolyte Technology

• Case Studies and Pathways for Electrolyte Financial Leasing

• Latest progress in stack technology and cost-reduction trends

• Case Studies and Technological Development of Hybrid Energy Storage Projects 

• Overseas expansion strategies and project implementation

• Energy storage and AI computing centers: Direct green power connection and new LDES scenarios

• Updates in the Industrialization of Proton Membranes  

• Technology Advances for Electrode and Bipolar Plate Materials

• VRFBs Production Equipment and Processes

• Investment Funding of VRFB Industry

• Industrial Site Visits: Shenergy Fengxian Xinghuo Comprehensive New Energy Storage Demonstration Base

Program

November 18      

16:00-20:00       Registration

November 19      

09:00-12:00       Presentations

12:00-14:00       Buffet Lunch and Networking

14:00-18:00       Presentations

18:00-20:00       Reception Banquet

November 20      

09:00-12:00       Industrial site visits