Dutch company Ore Energy announced an agreement with Budget Thuis to deploy up to 1 GWh of iron-air energy storage, making it the largest operation of its kind in continental Europe and the first carried out with a European energy provider.
The initiative will begin with an initial 400 MWh phase, scheduled for delivery in 2028. The project aims to strengthen the stability of the Dutch electricity system and facilitate greater integration of renewable energy into the grid.
A system designed to cover periods of low renewable generation
As wind energy‘s share increases in the Netherlands, the need to store electricity for longer periods becomes increasingly important. Conventional batteries typically operate within windows of a few hours, while multi-day storage solutions can respond to longer interruptions in renewable generation.
The technology developed by Ore Energy uses iron, water, and air to store electricity for periods ranging from 24 to 100 hours. When there is a surplus of renewable production, the energy can be conserved for later use during periods of lower wind or solar availability.
According to the company, this approach reduces reliance on gas-fired power plants typically used as backup in the electricity grid.
A strategic commitment for the Dutch energy market
For Budget Thuis, a provider with over a million customers in the Netherlands, the agreement is part of a strategy aimed at offering more stable electricity with less exposure to energy market volatility.
The system will operate integrated into the Dutch electrical infrastructure through modules installed in 40-foot containers. The architecture can adapt to different operational needs and be configured for various storage durations.
Furthermore, the technology presents a differentiating feature: it dispenses with materials such as lithium and cobalt. This allows for reliance on a European supply chain and reduces dependence on critical imported raw materials.
Iron-air storage gains relevance in Europe
European electricity grids face a growing challenge related to managing large volumes of renewable generation. At certain times, there is an electricity surplus that cannot be fully utilized due to storage limitations.
Iron-air batteries aim to precisely fill this technological gap. By shifting energy over several days, they can contribute to improving grid flexibility and facilitating greater penetration of renewable sources.
Aytaç Yilmaz, co-founder and CEO of Ore Energy, noted that European grids need solutions capable of storing energy for full days to complement the role already played by short-duration batteries.
From pilot projects to commercial deployment
The agreement comes after Ore Energy completed several grid-connected implementations. Among them is a pilot project carried out with EDF in France, considered one of the first European long-duration iron-air storage systems under real operating conditions.
The company also developed a grid-connected facility in Delft, Netherlands, where it validated the integration of the technology with existing electrical infrastructure.
With the new 1 GWh commitment alongside Budget Thuis, Ore Energy is advancing towards the large-scale commercialization of a technology that seeks to strengthen European energy security and expand the utilization of electricity from renewable sources.