Iron Powder: The Future Fuel for Storing Clean Energy
Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology discover the use of iron powder as a recyclable fuel for efficiently storing and transporting renewable energy.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
A study conducted by researchers at Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has revealed the potential to use iron powder as a recyclable fuel for storing and efficiently transporting renewable energy over the long term.
The technology relies on burning iron powder to generate heat and electricity, then converting the resulting iron oxide (rust) back into iron using hydrogen produced from renewable sources, within a closed, carbon-free cycle.
The study noted that this technology could enable the restart of existing coal plants with minimal modifications, leveraging their existing infrastructure.
Simulation models also showed that iron powder-fired power plants could be among the least costly options for supporting a climate-neutral European grid by 2050, particularly in regions lacking energy storage capacity or hydropower resources.
