Dutch students from Eindhoven University of Technology have developed an innovative solution for hydrogen storage and transport. The team, known as SOLID, has incorporated small iron balls, or iron pellets, as hydrogen energy carriers. With the use of a steam-iron process, the iron reacts with hot steam under high pressure to produce both hydrogen and iron oxide, or rust. The generated hydrogen can then be extracted and used as an energy source, while the rust can be restored back to iron using hydrogen. This circular process effectively allows iron to serve as a carrier for hydrogen.
The students claim that using iron as a storage and transport solution for hydrogen offers several benefits. Firstly, it has a higher energy density and can store up to three times more energy per volume than pressurised hydrogen. Additionally, storage and transport of iron pellets are safer and more compact, reducing logistical challenges. Furthermore, iron is an abundant element on Earth, making it a cheaper alternative for large-scale hydrogen storage and distribution.
The team has built a test installation, named the Steam Iron Reactor One (SIR One), in collaboration with their partners. The reactor aims to explore and exhibit the potential of this technology. In the upcoming period, the students plan to increase the efficiency of the process and extend the lifespan of the pellets using the SIR One. They are also intending to scale up the current system to build the SIR Two, with a 15 times greater capacity of 500kWh.
The team’s goal is to have a demonstration of this technology in the port of Rotterdam by 2027 to exhibit it on an industrial scale for potential end-users. The technology has the potential to play a crucial role in the energy transition towards a greener future.
