AQUABATTERY opens new pilot in Delft

Delft, Netherlands – November 25, 2024 – AQUABATTERY, a climate tech start-up developing sustainable energy storage, proudly announces the launch of its latest long-duration energy storage (LDES) pilot battery in Delft, the Netherlands. The project is located at Deltares’ Campus and supported by key partners from the energy and built environment sectors including Statkraft, Verbund, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, and Deltares.

“Long-duration energy storage is essential for tripling renewable generation capacity by 2030 and enabling fully decarbonized buildings,” said Jiajun Cen, CEO of Aquabattery. “Our saltwater-based technology is a sustainable, safe and affordable solution that meets the growing need for energy storage made in Europe.”

The pilot installation is a saltwater flow battery capable of storing renewable electricity up to 10 hours duration. Over the next 12 months, the project will generate crucial insights into technology scalability and operations of the battery. Furthermore, AQUABATTERY is going to work with the pilot partners on validating business cases for LDES applications on both the grid and behind-the-meter. The results will advance the climate tech start-up’s pathways to commercial deployment, targeting market readiness by 2026. This innovative LDES solution also underlines the feasibility of a circular and sustainable European battery supply chain. The installation is delivered by using local components and raw materials, including 12 m³ of water and 240kg of salt from the Benelux. This sustainable innovation reduces the dependency on critical raw materials and has the potential to drastically improve the energy storage sector’s safety standards, and environmental and social impacts.

Speaking at the opening event, Rinke Zonneveld, CEO of InvestNL, said, “at Invest-NL, we recognize that efficient energy storage is critical to unlocking the full potential of renewable energy. AQUABATTERY’S innovative saltwater-based technology offers a scalable and sustainable solution, addressing the growing need for safe and cost-effective storage. By enabling long-duration storage, this pilot project takes a vital step toward making clean energy more reliable for communities and businesses alike.”

With this pilot, AQUABATTERY and its partners aim to unlock new potential in LDES, propelling Europe toward a future where renewable energy is secure, affordable and reliable. This ambition also includes helping to decarbonise building operations in cities. Wouter de Haan, Head of Facilities Management at Deltares, says that “as a ‘living lab’, we can test Aquabattery in a real life environment and contribute to a practical solution for sustainable energy storage. The collaboration is a step towards a Paris-proof Campus in 2040. We are also developing more expertise in solutions for greenhouse gas reduction and accelerating the energy transition.”