¹û¶³´«Ã½

RIFT develops Iron Fuel Technology, in which a heat boiler generates heat through the combustion of iron powder. This combustion results in iron oxide, which the company reduces back to iron in its own production plant in Arnhem. Over the past year and a half, RIFT has been working on two simultaneous projects funded by MOOI and OpZuid, to build an Industrial Pilot system consisting of a boiler system in Helmond and a powder production plant in Arnhem. ‘In our first Industrial Prototype tests in 2023, we have demonstrated that our technology can be used to provide heat for a heat network. Now we have scaled it up, both in size and capacity, to answer a myriad of follow-up questions regarding the operational and commercial viability of our system,’ spokesperson Anne Beijer states.

Toward commercial success

In the new projects, RIFT is validating the technology, including safe storage and environmentally friendly transportation, through collaboration with users, insurance companies, certification bodies, and financiers. In addition to that, in an impact study, the company organizes supply chains, value chains, and legal frameworks. The holistic approach, integrating suppliers, value chains, legal structures, and human capital, ensures a sustainable revenue model, fostering commercial success.

‘In this step, we want to improve the efficiency and life cycle of our technology by applying it on a commercial scale. At the same time, we are investigating all aspects that are of relevance to actually make an impact with it,’ Beijer says. Questions the company hopes to answer range from: Can we operate the powder continuously for days on end? And: Can we fire up our system without any delays if needed? To: What kinds of business cases can make iron powder an interesting and profitable alternative for fossils in providing heat for housing and industry? And: What is the carbon footprint of this technology when we take the entire value chain into account, including the transport of the iron and the iron oxide powders?

Planning

Beijer: ‘We will be testing our systems from this fall until mid-2025. We are focusing on economic, operational, and durability/cyclicity tests. In doing so, we will optimize the business side of the technology in close contact and collaboration with our end users, who are also part of these projects. All-in all, this will help RIFT to answer the final questions needed to turn Iron Fuel Technology into a truly sustainable and profitable development.’