Elestor discusses the decision to move from hydrogen bromine to hydrogen-iron flow batteries, highlighting the need for technology acceptance, social support and regulatory compliance, along with sustainability, scientific advancement and economic viability.
The extremely complex yet very simple idea that technology must be tolerated to succeed was the main reason for the Dutch long-term power storage company Elestor to formally move from hydrogen bromine to hydrogen chemistry.
Examining the acceptability of new technologies is a form of unscientific stress testing carried out in the real world. As a process, it is always more troublesome and unpredictable than testing in the lab.
“It’s one thing to be sure you’re on the right track. You’re doing the right thing. Your solution is the best thing you’ve ever done since sliced bread,” reflects Jope Korlett, compliance manager for Elestore’s project. “Convincing others that you’re right is something completely different.”
Disability ranges from formal instructions and regulations to informal arguments motivated by emotional and subjective opinions, as well as a range of insights and biases.
“The real world is not very rational, it’s hidden and sometimes filled with a topic of confusion,” says Laurette. “As such, it’s definitely even more complicated than science. There’s a good reason why so many genius scientists are evacuated in the lab.”
Approval by fellow scientists means everything about academia governed by transparency and peer review. Peer views are important in the real world, but they often need to appease lawyers, regulators and policy makers.
But when it comes to persuading the general public, scientists’ views often weigh less than pre-held ideas, misunderstandings, years of bias, and more or less irrational concerns.
“Nonetheless, we must always remember two basic truths: social stakeholders are not obligated to get enough information, but they still have the right to hear,” points out Rowlett. “And since we’ve heard that by policymakers and regulators, by the media and each other, it’s essential to ensure the support of ordinary people.”
Elestor decided it would be easy to convince politicians and communities, including representatives of emergency services, that hydrogen iron flow batteries would become fully accepted neighbours.
Dutch long-term electricity storage company Elestor recently announced its official transition from hydrogen-bromine to hydrogen iron chemistry, showing a major advance in large-scale, long-term energy storage.
The decision was based on a complex and broad standard and naturally evolved after years of research and development, extensive testing, and deep consultations with both the commercial partners and the company’s international scientists and engineers council.
The shift to hydrogen iron chemistry is driven not only by scientific advances, but also by real-world economic and market realities, regulatory compliance considerations, and the growing need for resilience in an increasingly complex world.
“Recent geopolitical turbulence has made energy security, regional resilience and independence from hostile administrations more important than ever,” said Hylke Van Bennekom, CEO of Erestall.
“This wasn’t that easy when it comes to hydrogen bromine flow batteries,” explains Korlett.
The reasons for the addition of ELESTOR’s transition from hydrogen bromine to hydrogen iron chemistry will be investigated in future issues of the Innovation News Network.
Hydrogen Iron Acceptability: Formal and informal requirements
The tolerance of Elestor’s hydrogen iron cells depends on both formal and informal factors. The formal ones are complicated, but they are easy to address as the requirements are explained in detail by regulatory authorities and certified experts. The informal ones deal with many additional factors, including subjective opinions.
Hydrogen Iron Compliance
The most basic formal requirements are compliance with all relevant regulations and directives. An important standard during Elestor’s hydrogen iron batteries development is its perfect alignment with many EU directives, particularly EU battery regulations (EU 2023/1542). This regulation is particularly relevant as Elestor’s system includes platinum-based catalysts, which are classified as important raw materials.
Elestor supports transparent sourcing and responsible use, and is ready to meet the responsibility of digital battery passports, carbon emission declarations and extended producers, where regulations are placed in stages. Additionally, Erest’s hydrogen flow batteries comply with machinery regulations (2023/1230). The Pressure Equipment Directive (2014/68/EU), ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU), and Cyber Resilience Act (EU Regulation 2024/1093) ensure that your company’s products are designed to be safe. Along with compliance with relevant social and environmental directives, the batteries are designed to comply with the entire product lifecycle.
Together, these frameworks guarantee safety, environmental management, interoperability, and long-term product value. In addition to EU-level regulations, individual countries typically impose national requirements such as construction permits, fire safety and environmental protection.
Elestor plans to approach local compliance on a project-by-project basis. The company has already worked with authorities and stakeholders, including the Dutch Institute of Public Safety (NIPV), Environmental Services, Fire Brigade and representatives from Dutch municipalities. Additionally, Elestor receives opinions from Germany and Norway and will work closely with the authorities to ensure that all national and regional legal requirements, norms and guidelines are met. This approach allows for flexible and seamless deployment across a wide range of use cases and regions. The insurance company also agreed that Elestor reduced operational risks with the new electrolyte, which also reduces insurance costs.
Capacitance of hydrogen iron
The slightly less formal, or at least subjective requirements, are related to the capacity of the battery. This is how easy it is to get permission and secure permission to install and operate the battery.
Hydrogen Iron Flow Batteries use toxic and non-toxic chemicals. It also does not have corrosive smoke. This is a major advantage when it comes to public safety, and therefore it is easier to secure permission for this chemistry than other so-called redox couples.
Additionally, the liquid is much less corrosive, which removes the need for so-called “eternal plastics” to contain chemicals, making the total system more sustainable and easier.
Hydrogen iron flow rates of hydrogen and acidic electrolytes in elestor can also be stored and contained in accordance with existing industry practices. In this regard, the industry has a very good track record. As a result, the risk of incidents such as leaks is very low. Furthermore, it is important to recognize that when such an unlikely scenario is achieved, no harmful steam is generated, and thus the harmful effects are minimal.
Value Proposal of Hydrogen Iron
Elestor’s hydrogen iron flow batteries have several additional value propositions. These are some of them:
They are terrestrial stationary systems. This means there is no need to store hydrogen at high pressure to reduce that amount.
In contrast to a typical hydrogen transfer solution that often works at a low price of 300 or 700 or a typical hydrogen pipeline that can operate at a low price of 60, the Elethor batteries are designed to operate at relatively low hydrogen pressures, varying in either of the atmospheric metal tanks, from atmospheric pressure to a maximum storage pressure of 16-20 removal barg. Low pressures are easier to handle, safer and do not require very expensive equipment or materials.
In fact, even if a leak occurs, the leak rate is relatively low. Such storage facilities are well known in the industry and have a great track record. Therefore, hydrogen is flammable when potentially explosively mixed with air, but the risk of an Erest battery is very low, and hydrogen is kept in an airless closed loop system. In contrast to water-electronic agents, which also produce oxygen, there is no similar risk that oxygen will enter the hydrogen cycle.
Elestor’s hydrogen iron flow uses liquid electrolytes, but is acidic, but not toxic. If an accidental release occurs, it will not evaporate any harmful gases. Excellent industry practices for storage and construction can be applied and combined with recognized engineering standards to ensure that risks are kept very low. As with Elestor’s previous chemistry, the physical locations of power generation and energy storage are separated by its hydrogen iron flow battery system. Therefore, even in very unlikely events of a fire on the power generation side, the separator valve shuts down the fuel source (hydrogen).
Therefore, an automated fire extinction system allows any fire to be extinguished quickly. The setup has been highly praised by public safety authorities such as firefighters and local and national safety agencies.
In a very large size, any energy system is likely to be subject to the Seveso directive, forming an important part of the EU’s commitment to environmental and public safety. The directive aims to prevent major industrial accidents involving dangerous substances and limit human health and environmental consequences. The Seveso Directive applies through a combination of strict regulatory measures, reporting requirements and safety protocols.
Facilities are classified into lower and upper layers based on the amount of hazardous substances they treat. Each category has specific safety measures and reporting requirements.
Logically, obtaining permission for a system that needs to comply with Seveso’s requirements is even more difficult. Very large hydrogen iron flow batteries can be built before Seveso’s requirements apply. Therefore, it is much easier to get permission to install and operate.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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