TNO and partners launch project to accelerate long-term energy storage in Dutch energy system

Pulse for reliable and flexible energy grid

The RenewaFLEXNL consortium is launching a three-year project in which 17 partners from the energy chain are working together to integrate long-term energy storage into the Dutch energy system. The project, coordinated by TNO, should contribute to solutions for grid congestion, price volatility and the growing mismatch between supply and demand of renewable energy.

Energy storage key to future-proof energy system

Long-term energy storage technology allows renewable energy to be stored for 8 to 100 hours and used flexibly. This reduces the moments of switching off renewable energy production, and promotes a more stable energy supply. Iratxe Gonzalez-Aparicio, Program Manager System Transformation at TNO: “RenewaFLEXNL addresses one of the most pressing challenges of the Dutch energy transition: how to safely and affordably integrate large amounts of renewable energy into a congested system. By combining technology, case studies and system analysis, we are making long-term storage truly scalable for the Netherlands.”

From technology to practice: three Dutch pilots

RenewaFLEXNL is developing three complementary solutions - electrochemical, thermal and iron-air - and testing them in case studies that reflect typical Dutch system challenges (which ones?):

• Rotterdam Port: integrating storage with offshore wind to provide green electricity and heat to energy-intensive industries.
• De Kwakel: deployment of heat and electricity from energy storage to make greenhouses less dependent on gas-fired CHP.
• Altena: combination of renewable generation, energy storage, electric truck charging and heat supply for greenhouses and local customers.

The pilots explore how long-term energy storage can reduce congestion, better utilize renewable energy and strengthen regional energy security.

Three innovative Dutch storage technologies

The consortium is exploring three solutions:

• Aquabattery (electrochemical) - scalable saltwater-based acid-base flow battery.
• ORE Energy (iron-air) - multi-day storage via reversible oxidation of iron, suitable for grid stability and cost-efficient flexibility.
• BB1 Project (thermal & electric hybrid) - heat pumps, water-based heat storage and sodium ion batteries with smart control.

In addition to technology development, RenewaFLEXNL focuses on system integration: techno-economic analyses, life-cycle analyses, business cases and recommendations for future regulation. A national system analysis should clarify where long-term energy storage can deliver the greatest societal value.

Consortium

The project is carried out by a broad partnership including: TNO (coordinator), TU/e, DNV, Vattenfall, Vopak, Nobian, Stedin, Aquabattery, ORE Energy, BB1 Project, HilverdaFlorist, Butterfly Orchid, Emmett Green, EFS, Ecomatters, New Ground Law and Energy Storage NL. RenewaFLEXNL receives funding from the Dutch MOOI program.