Redox Flow Batteries: 23 Market Forecast Lines, Roadmaps, Technologies, 59 Manufacturers, Latest Research Pipeline 2025-2045

Redox flow batteries are now a very active area after decades in the wilderness. That is largely because the appropriate market needs have arrived but it is increasingly reinforced by important improvements. 

The new commercially-oriented 327-page report, predicts that these manufacturers will share over $20 billion of business in 2045, possibly double. Key is the now rapid progress in overcoming RFB limitations such as up-front cost and Levelised Cost of Storage LCOS. For example, a new US Department of Energy report  finds that RFB are one of only three options able to drop to the $50/MWh it sees as necessary for long duration storage for grids.

The other two technologies identified need massive earthworks: RFB does not. 

Solar microgrids resurgent

Equally important, safely stackable RFB with ten hours duration (MWh divided by MW) are already widely purchased for solar microgrids, a rapidly-growing market. Indeed, coping with longer solar intermittency is easily achievable with RFB and most competition cannot keep up with that trend mainly driven by solar power taking over but also wind and their attendant intermittency. RFB has economy of scale due to separate adjustment of power and capacity as needed. RFB can perform short-and long-duration storage in one unit. 

Traditional vanadium gaining business

The traditional vanadium RFB is gaining business. That is mostly for systems capable of being off-grid but some grid giants are being erected in China. An even bigger one is now planned in Europe. 

Iron and other approaches slash cost and hybrids go small

Much of the effort is directed at using iron and, later, other options, to save cost. For different applications, the industry is perfecting small hybrids of RFB with one side having conventional battery structure instead of a tank of liquid. These may offer long duration in our solar buildings, where space is very tight . Eliminate the expensive ion exchange membrane? Offer 50-year life? Switch it off to store power in its liquids for a year with no leak or fade? 

What the report offers

The Executive Summary and Conclusions is sufficient in itself with the new infograms, three SWOT appraisals, roadmaps and 23 forecast lines, graphs with explanations. The Introduction (30 pages) explains the context of renewable energy, Long Duration Energy Storage (most of the future RFB opportunity), its best technologies compared with many diagrams and comparison tables. Here are escape routes from needing LDES, because this report is balanced, real-world appraisal of your opportunity, not the maximised dream of a trade association. The conclusion is that LDES will not be as large a market as enthusiasts  portray, but huge, nonetheless. 

Chapter 3. RFB design principles, research pipeline, toxigen alternatives and SWOT appraisals (63 pages) looks closely at the different chemistries, electrolytes, membranes and so on, with infograms and tables. Understand the implications of the latest research pipeline and how to deal with matters of concern to industry such as toxicity issues. Which objectives are far off, even unrealistic?

Chapter 4. compares in eight columns then profiles 59 RFB companies, mostly manufacturers, but also some key materials providers in its 132 pages. Which four are already serious about 100 day LDES RFB, embarrassing the competition facing this very real emerging need?

Chapter 5. Long Duration Energy Storage LDES RFB (28 pages) is equally detailed. It closely examines 13 relevant research advances in 2024. Parameters required, achieved and likely are revealed and explained because LDES is where the main potential of RFB now lies - from compact hybrid RFB in a building to very large RFB in a grid.

Chapter 6. Redox flow batteries for LDES beyond grids (15 pages) then takes another look at this aspect because it will probably dominate value sales 2025-2045.