Iron block energy storage

Could iron be used for seasonal energy storage?

Researchers at ETH Zurich are using iron to store hydrogen safely and for long periods. In the future, this technology could be used for seasonal energy storage. ETH researchers Samuel Heiniger (left, with a jar of iron ore) and Professor Wendelin Stark in front of the three iron reactors on ETH Zurich’s Hönggerberg campus. (Image: ETH Zurich)

Can iron store energy?

Iron could store energy from renewable sources, for example for transportation. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute für Eisenforschung investigate, under which conditions the metal can be used for energy storage.

How do we store excess energy in iron?

The idea is to store excess energy in iron and release it through combustion of iron into iron oxide. The team is working to understand the underlying processes and upscale the technique to industrial relevance. Iron powder combusted in an industrial-scale burner, used for the application of sustainable energy carrier.

What is the nexus between clean electricity and decarbonized iron production?

The nexus between clean electricity, long-duration electrical energy storage using iron-air batteries, and decarbonized iron production For deep decarbonization of the energy system, affordable energy storage capable of bridging intermittencies in the multi-day to seasonal generation of renewable electricity is essential.

Are iron-based batteries a roadblock to widespread adoption?

While iron-based batteries offer promising potential for safe, affordable, and clean energy storage, their spatial needs may offer a roadblock to widespread adoption, especially in communities with sensitive lands or limited space.

How is energy stored in metals?

They published their recent findings in the journal Acta Materialia. Energy is stored while reducing iron oxide to iron. Energy is freed while combusting iron back to iron oxide. [more] “Storing energy in metals and burning them to free the energy whenever needed is a method already applied in aerospace technology.