Deltares launches pilot with AquaBattery for sustainable energy storage
Globally, energy use in buildings is a significant contributor to CO₂ emissions. To help reduce climate impact, Deltares is launching a pilot project with AquaBattery on its Delft campus. This innovation, based on table salt and water, enables renewable energy to be stored efficiently and sustainably over longer periods. From November 2024, Deltares will test this sustainable battery, aiming to make its campus Paris Proof by 2040.
"The collaboration between Deltares and AquaBattery is a perfect match," says Wouter de Haan, Head of Facility Management at Deltares. "As a 'living lab', we can test and optimise the AquaBattery in a realistic environment, contributing to practical solutions for sustainable energy storage. This partnership also helps us build expertise in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the energy transition."
What is the AquaBattery?
The AquaBattery is a safe and sustainable way to store energy without hazardous materials or environmental harm. This so-called flow battery stores electricity by separating saltwater into acidic and alkaline solutions, which are kept in separate tanks. Recombining these solutions generates electricity. AquaBattery was founded in Delft 10 years ago by five engineers who dreamed of creating batteries without rare or polluting materials. By combining their expertise in water technology and energy, they designed a flow battery powered by water and table salt. Today, 16 people in Alphen aan den Rijn are working to scale up this saltwater battery technology.
Why Deltares?
The Deltares campus gives AquaBattery the opportunity to test its technology in varying conditions and refine its performance. Deltares has 5,725 solar panels, generating a significant portion of its own energy needs. The AquaBattery will allow Deltares to store surplus solar energy for use at night or during peak demand. "It also helps us better align energy consumption with our production," says De Haan. "This collaboration is an important step towards achieving climate-neutral infrastructure."
Ambitions
For AquaBattery, the pilot not only provides practical experience but also helps tailor its technology to market needs.
"Field testing is essential for us to optimise our technology and understand how it performs under different conditions," says Janneke Tjon Pian Gi, AquaBattery’s Commercial Director. "Partnering with Deltares, which shares our sustainable ambitions, is ideal. Deltares supports us as a pilot location and contributes ideas for long-term energy storage solutions. Together, we’re exploring how the AquaBattery can support a Paris Proof campus and contribute to a resilient energy system."
AquaBattery aims to make sustainable energy storage affordable, safe, and environmentally friendly worldwide. Their goal is to support the energy transition by developing safe, fully recyclable storage solutions free from harmful chemicals, enabling renewable energy to be stored and used on a large scale with minimal environmental impact.