About us
Our journey
Milestones
Our mission is to enable access to clean and renewable energy for anyone, at any time. We do this by creating an ecosystem for iron fuels as circular energy carriers. In this way, we reduce the emissions originating from heavy industries that currently lack viable solutions.
Steam Iron proof of concept
– May 2023
Steam Iron proof of concept
Iron-Based Hydrogen Storage (IRHYS) is one step closer with completing the Steam Iron reactor proof of concept. This reactor allows SOLID to research ideal process conditions and material properties. This information can then be used to design a possible scale-up installation. The project also included a techno- economic study showing the great potential of IRHYS.
Steam Iron Project
– September 2021
Steam Iron Project
After successful projects for iron fuel, Steam Iron is the newest project of SOLID. With the start of this project SOLID is expanding its scope. It is focused on storing the energy of hydrogen in the form of iron by using steam instead of burning iron. This is the first project trying to use this technology. When successful, this project can form the basis for new innovative hydrogen storage solutions.
Maritime Demonstration
– November 2020
Maritime Project
With new opportunities presenting itself for metal fuels applications, SOLID looks towards the maritime sector. Compact and clean energy storage for ship propulsion is an immense challenge and the sector has trouble transitioning towards more sustainable fuels. With iron fuel technology, we propose a new means of energy storage and provision in ships.
DEMONSTRATION AT BAVARIA
– October 2020
Demonstration at Bavaria
“Late 2019, the design and construction of the 100 kW Metal Power system was completed. Ready to demonstrate that the technology does not only function in a lab environment, but also in real-life applications. The system uses iron fuel to produce steam, which will contribute to the brewing process of Royal Swinkels Family Brewers, brewing the first beers using iron fuel!”
Subsidy MEC granted
– February 2020
Subsidy Reduction project
A subsidy has been granted to a new consortium to realize a proof of concept iron oxide reduction system and in addition, conduct a techno-economic study concerning the upscaling of such a system. The realization will start in July 2020. Want to know more about this project? Click here.
Living Lab subsidy project
– January 2020
Living lab subsidy project
Following up on the successes in the Metal Power project, the EU granted a subsidy to scale up and optimize the iron fuel technology. In this project SOLID and its consortium partners will scale up the combustion technology to 1 MW while reaching a TRL of 6.
Maritime Impuls Innovation Project
– May 2019
Maritime innovation impulse project
In May 2019, the Martime Innovation Impuls project (MIIP) commenced. This project is a techno-economic feasibility study concerning iron fuel for various types of ships. The study was finished in December 2019 and published in January 2020. This study covers many important aspects of iron fuel applications in the maritime sector and proves an important source of knowledge for future maritime projects.
Metal Power Project
– January 2019
Metal power project
January 2019, the Province of Noord-Brabant made one million euros available to build the world’s first industrial iron fuel 100kW demonstration system. In December 2020, SOLID and the consortium finished building the demonstrator researching a TRL of 4/5. Want to know more about this project? Click here.
SOLID becomes official student team of the TU/e
– September 2018
SOLID becomes official student team of the TU/e
In September 2018, SOLID becomes an official student team of Eindhoven University of Technology.
Creating Metal Fuels Awareness
– September 2018
Creating metal fuels awareness
After the summer, the proof of concept was shared with the outside world, generating a significant amount of media attention. Spreading the word of metal fuels gave the development a large boost. Since then, metal fuels maintained a permanent position in the spotlights through which it has become a part of the ‘accepted’ energy storage solutions.
Proof of Concept
– June 2018
Proof of Concept
To show the world that iron fuel can serve as a magnificent sustainable energy carrier, a team of eleven students realized a proof of concept in the period 2017-2018. They managed to make the world’s first full iron flame proof of concept that produced energy. Want to know about this project? Click here.
Foundation of SOLID
– August 2017
Foundation of SOLID
At the end of the Honors Academy project, the members wanted to continue the development of iron fuel. In order to do so they founded Team SOLID, what was later transformed into SOLID.
Our first iron-methane flame
– May 2017
Our first Iron-Methane Flame
The first constant iron-methane flame was created in the lab by the three students who started the Honors Academy project. The creation of a stable iron flame was important as it demonstrated the possibility of iron as a fuel.
Honors Academy Project
– October 2016
Honors Academy
Three students of Eindhoven University of Technology (Bart Ruis, Dennis Langelaan & Luc Brinkman) started with an Honors Academy project with metal fuels as their topic of research. The project was initiated by Phillip de Goey, TU/e professor in combustion technology. Based on the fundamental research conducted by McGill University and Groupe PSA in France, they aimed to create an iron flame under the supervision of Mark Cox.
Paper Metal fuels
– December 2015
Paper: Metal fuels
In 2015, prof. J.M. Bergthorson & collogues of McGill University in Canada published an article in the Journal of Applied Energy nr 160 pp. 368-382 about the potential of metal fuels and iron fuel in specific. After publication, the first step of the metal fuels journey was made. If you want to read the paper that fueled our interest for iron fuel, click here.