Europe is betting big on a battery that runs for four days [View all]
https://electrek.co/2026/06/22/europe-is-betting-big-on-a-battery-that-runs-for-four-days/Michelle Lewis | Jun 22 2026 - 12:01 am PT
Long-duration energy storage startup
Ore Energy has landed what it says is the largest iron-air battery deal in continental Europe so far.
The Netherlands-based company announced an agreement with Dutch energy supplier Budget Thuis to deploy 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of iron-air energy storage. The deal starts with a committed 400-megawatt-hour (MWh) first phase that Ore Energy plans to deliver in 2028.
The project is notable not only for its size but also because its the first iron-air storage agreement with a European energy supplier. As countries add more wind and solar power, utilities are looking for ways to store renewable energy for longer periods when weather conditions dont cooperate.
Iron-air batteries arent perfect. Theyre bulkier and less efficient than lithium-ion batteries, so they lose more energy along the way. But for a grid-scale system thats designed to store cheap wind and solar power for days at a time, size matters a lot less than cost. Thats where iron-airs simple, inexpensive materials could give it an edge.