Flow Battery Sector Powers Ahead at IFBF 2025 in Vienna

The International Flow Battery Forum (IFBF) concluded its 15th edition in Vienna, Austria, bringing together 350 delegates interested in energy storage from all over the world. The event marked a powerful return to the city where the Forum began in 2010, while the next edition will take place in June 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.

IFBF 2025 reflected the growing momentum of flow batteries as an essential solution for long-duration energy storage (LDES). Across three packed days, the Forum explored the full breadth of the sector, with sessions highlighting technical progress, diverse business cases, and regulatory gaps. Discussions spanned real-world projects across the world, underscoring how flow batteries are not only ready, but essential.

“Opportunities for flow batteries are no longer on the horizon, they’re here” said Anthony Price, Programme Coordinator of the IFBF “We enjoyed many highlights. David Hochschild, Chair of the Californian Energy Commision was enthusiastic about delivering a net zero solution for California, and long duration storage was an integral part of this”.

Experts called for clearer policy signals to match technological readiness, while utilities and developers shared compelling use cases from Ukraine to China, from North America to Saudi Arabia. The conference offered a comprehensive view of where the flow battery industry stands, and where it’s headed.

Back in Europe, Pascal Wyss from Flexbase presented the background to the new 500 MW flowbattery at Laufenberg, setting the technical requirements for an intrinsically safe and durable solution for a giant Swiss data centre.

The presentation by Jan Girschik from Fraunhofer UMSICHT took attendees out of this world, literally. His presentation on flow batteries in space captivated the audience, pointing out how space technologies often pave the way for applications on Earth. “What happens in space becomes commonplace on Earth very quickly,” Girschik noted. “Flow batteries could soon play a role on satellites and space stations.”

Young researchers from across the globe presented their work in a lively poster session, contributing to bridging the gap between research and industry. Meanwhile, the exhibition area featured innovations from established companies and new entrants alike, reflecting the growing momentum in the sector.

Participants also had the exclusive opportunity to visit CellCube’s HQ, with an excellent tour of the assembly process and a fascinating glimpse of how the Austrian-born company developed their flow battery stack over the past twenty years. The visit, one of the most anticipated moments of the Forum, reflected the strong sense of community and curiosity that defines the global flow battery sector.

With physical tickets sold out and enthusiasm running high, IFBF 2025 was a resounding success, and the energy continues to build: planning for IFBF 2026 in Budapest is already underway.