Energy company Ore Energy connects iron-air battery to the Dutch power grid for the first time.

In a significant stride for renewable energy storage, Ore Energy, a pioneering startup, has completed the first iron-air battery system connected to the grid, marking a milestone in Europe's renewable energy sector.

Based in Europe, Ore Energy is at the forefront of the iron-air battery conversation, having raised a substantial $405 million in a Series F venture round in October 2024. The company's innovative technology is designed to scale up to 50 gigawatt-hours per year by 2030, providing a promising solution for the storage of excess renewable energy.

The iron-air storage system by Ore Energy is noteworthy as it is the first Large Duration Energy Storage (LDES) system designed, built, and installed wholly in Europe. This homegrown technology has already caught the attention of the European Innovation Council, which has supported the company as part of its accelerator program.

Located at The Green Village, a Delft University of Technology testbed for climate and energy technologies, the pilot battery system has a capacity of 4.2 megawatt-hours and is housed in a 40-foot container. Despite initial reports suggesting the deployment of a full-scale 4.2 MWh system for the pilot, the pilot battery system currently has a sub-megawatt-hour capacity.

Ore Energy is targeting European utilities that are decommissioning coal- and gas-fired power plants and seeking a replacement. The company's long-duration energy storage solution, capable of discharging energy for multiple days, offers a viable alternative to dominant lithium-ion batteries, which typically range between four and 12 hours.

The European grid, particularly in the Netherlands, has a significant need for iron-air battery technology due to a relative lack of sun and abundant, intermittent wind. Once deployed at commercial scale, Ore will stack these modules according to the customer's needs.

In addition to its European operations, Ore Energy plans to source all materials for its iron-air batteries from within Europe, aligning with the European Union's Clean Industrial Deal program. The startup has secured additional subsidies and grants, bringing its total funding closer to $23 million (or 20 million euros), since raising more than $11.5 million (or 10 million euros) in seed funding in 2024.

Looking ahead, Ore Energy is actively discussing commercial deployments of its systems with various parties and is currently scouting locations for its first commercial factory. The company's first factory will be located in Chico, California, and will produce the iron-air batteries that Ore Energy hopes will revolutionise the renewable energy storage market.

Meanwhile, Form Energy, another key player in the iron-air battery market, has a pipeline of projects that range from 100 megawatt-hours to 8,500 megawatt-hours, with several scheduled to come online later this year. With both Ore Energy and Form Energy leading the charge, the future of renewable energy storage in Europe looks increasingly promising.

Iron-air batteries, also known as "100-hour batteries," charge and discharge electricity through a reversible rusting process. This unique technology offers a sustainable, long-term storage solution for the excess energy produced by renewable sources, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.