[ energy storage ]
Iron powder . Photo by Bart van Overbeeke Photography
Iron Power : enabling large-scale green energy storage using iron powder
Iron Power represents a groundbreaking approach to energy production . By harnessing the power of iron as a fuel source , we are pioneering a sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources . This innovative technology not only promises to offer CO 2
-free energy , but also offers a reliable and efficient solution to meet the world ’ s growing energy needs .
By Stijn van Aken , Philip de Goey and Raoul Voeten , Metalot
Introduction to Iron Power
In 2015 , a meeting for a research program into the combustion behavior of powders under zero-gravity conditions ( Perwaves ) was held at the European Space Agency ( ESA ) campus . This research program was coordinated by Philip de Goey from Eindhoven University of Technology and Jeff Bergthorson from McGill University . Here , a concept was conceived that would transcend the boundaries of space exploration and catalyze a revolution in terrestrial energy storage – Iron Power .
Traditionally , metal fuels had been stalwarts in space travel , serving mainly as solid rocket propellants since the 1970s . However , it was in this ESA meeting that the seeds were sown to harness the potential of metal fuels , particularly iron powder , in a circular manner for applications on Earth . The vision was clear : to create a method
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 16 | June 2024 31