Iron-air battery promises stable supply of sustainable energy

A spin-off from Delft University of Technology has developed a new European iron-air battery that can supply power for up to 100 hours—much longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. This breakthrough could enhance the integration of renewable energy by compensating for fluctuations in supply. The battery utilizes safe and abundant materials, and the manufacturer plans to establish a new factory to produce these batteries on a large scale. This could be a crucial step in the energy transition.

The rise of battery storage in the Netherlands

The Dutch battery market is experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing demand for sustainable energy storage, further electrification, volatile electricity prices, and ongoing grid congestion. The rapid expansion of solar and wind energy, emerging flexibility markets, and supportive policies are further stimulating the deployment of battery storage. On the supply side, falling storage costs per kilowatt-hour, technological advances, and an increasing number of suppliers are contributing to an increasingly mature market. The number of companies involved in delivering battery projects is growing rapidly, indicating that the ecosystem of companies active in battery development is expanding at a similar pace.

Coen Hutters, energy specialist at Rabobank, sees the market for large-scale battery storage really taking off, he told NOS. Battery capacity in the Netherlands is expected to double this year to around 2 gigawatt hours, enough to supply 2 million households with power for an hour. More and larger batteries are being connected to the power grid, partly because batteries have become significantly cheaper, and due to volatile electricity prices, there is an opportunity to make money from trading electricity.14,000 companies are waiting for power – BIC knows what is needed. Minister Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) sends an urgent letter to the House of Representatives: “Make maximum use of all possibilities.”

Advantages of battery storage

Batteries can store electricity when supply is high and demand is low, and then supply it to the grid when demand increases. This helps to dampen electricity prices and ensure that the grid is used more efficiently. Placed in the right locations, batteries can also help to reduce grid congestion. The increase in renewable energy has led to more peaks and troughs in electricity prices. In 2024, there were 466 hours with negative electricity prices; however, by the first half of 2025, this number had already increased to 458. Batteries can absorb these peaks. Talen believes that gas-fired power plants will run less because batteries can absorb peaks of 3-4 hours that would otherwise require gas, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Disadvantages and alternatives

Longer-term storage requires other techniques, such as heat or hydrogen storage. The iron-air battery from ORE Energy can play an important role in this regard, as it can supply power for up to 100 hours. This makes the battery suitable for compensating for longer periods of low wind or sun. ORE Energy is a spin-off from Delft University of Technology, founded in 2022. ORE Energy's first iron-air battery is located in The Green Village, a field lab for sustainable innovation at TU Delft. The company is currently building a factory to produce batteries on a large scale. The factory is scheduled to open in a few years, requiring an investment of tens of millions of euros. The location of the new factory has not yet been determined, but ORE Energy is considering the Netherlands and other European countries.

Future prospects

The Dutch battery storage market is in flux. Falling costs of lithium-ion batteries and technological advances are stimulating growth. The arrival of ORE Energy's iron-air battery could provide the market with a further boost, as this battery offers a longer storage life and utilizes safe and abundant materials. In November, two more large batteries will be connected to the grid: Engie is building a battery park on an island in Lelystad, and Flevo-BESS is building the largest battery in the Netherlands in Dronten. The increasing investments in battery storage show that the energy transition in the Netherlands is in full swing.