Breakthrough in Energy Storage: The Journey of Aytac Yilmaz

He had a dream: creating something that makes a real impact on the planet. With his fast-growing startup in iron-air battery technology for renewable energy storage, Aytac Yilmaz seems to be doing just that. “The Faculty of Impact helped us take the step from academic research to the real world and fast-tracked our progress dramatically.

Aytac Yilmaz (1998) earned his PhD in Materials Science at TU Delft, where he focused on developing innovative methods to store energy. Even then, he believed his work on iron-air battery technology could pave the way for a major shift in large-scale renewable energy storage—and by the looks of it, he was right.

Iron-Air Batteries: A Simple but Powerful Concept

After completing his PhD, Yilmaz stayed at TU Delft as a postdoctoral researcher, diving deeper into the challenge of creating cost-effective energy storage. His team developed a sustainable technology using rust as a medium for energy retention. The concept was straightforward yet impactful: by discharging the battery, iron would transform into rust while absorbing oxygen from the air. When charged, the rust would convert back into iron, releasing the stored energy as the battery “breathed out” oxygen.

“Our solution is sustainable and scalable,” Yilmaz explains. “We wanted to store large amounts of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar, making it available at all times rather than relying on fossil fuels when nature isn’t cooperating.”

Scaling the Science: Enter Faculty of Impact

The challenge wasn’t only scientific; taking the technology from lab research to commercial production required resources and strategic insight. That’s when Yilmaz joined the Faculty of Impact (FOI), a program designed to help researchers transition their ideas into viable business ventures.

“FOI helped us take the step from academic research to the real world,” Yilmaz says. “We founded the company, received guidance on legal aspects, and gained new perspectives from industry experts. While I believe our technology would have succeeded on its own, joining FOI fast-tracked our progress dramatically.”

With FOI’s support, Yilmaz and his team gained the funding and coaching they needed, transforming their research project into a fast-growing company.

A Growing Team and an Expansive Vision

What began as a two-person operation quickly grew. Now, with a team of 40, Yilmaz’s company is setting ambitious goals: to create large batteries capable of storing renewable energy for up to 100 hours—far surpassing the few hours typical of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

But the benefits of Yilmaz’s iron-air batteries extend beyond storage duration. Made from abundant materials like iron, water, and air, this technology is up to ten times cheaper than lithium-ion alternatives, which rely on scarce, costly materials like lithium, which is not readily available in Europe. Moreover, iron-air batteries pose no fire risk, a significant advantage over other battery types.

A Game-Changer for Renewable Energy Storage

“The scalability and cost-effectiveness of our technology make it one of the most promising solutions for energy storage,” Yilmaz says. “We’re not dependent on scarce raw materials, which is a huge advantage. Plus, we can store energy for much longer than other battery systems—making it possible to keep renewable energy available around the clock, not just when the sun is out or the wind is blowing.”

With production facilities under construction and partnerships forming with major industry players, Yilmaz’s company is on the verge of a breakthrough. Large fields of iron-air batteries are being designed to support solar and wind farms, either on-site or in separate locations connected to the grid.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Reflecting on his journey, Yilmaz is proud of how far they’ve come. “My dream has always been to create something that makes a real impact on the planet,” he says. “During my PhD, I knew this technology had the potential to change the world. Now, we’re finally at the point where we can make renewable energy available at all times, on a global scale. It’s incredibly exciting.”

Through persistence, collaboration, and support from programs like FOI, Yilmaz is not only realizing his vision but also shaping the future of sustainable energy.

Originele tekst Bianca Looman

Breakthrough in energy storage

Aytac Yilmaz (1998) earned his PhD in Materials Science at TU Delft, where his research focused on developing innovative methods to store energy. Even then, he believed his work on iron-air battery technology would pave the way for a major shift in large-scale renewable energy storage. And by the looks of it, he was right.

After completing his PhD, Yilmaz stayed at TU Delft as a postdoctoral researcher in the same department. During this time, he and his team were immersed in the challenge of lowering the costs of energy storage, using a technology based on rust as a medium for energy retention. The concept was simple but powerful: by discharging the battery, iron would turn into rust, while oxygen from the atmosphere would be absorbed. When charging, the rust was converted back into iron, releasing the stored energy as the battery “breathed out” the oxygen.

“Our solution is sustainable and scalable,” Yilmaz explains. “We wanted to store large amounts of renewable energy from green sources like wind and solar making it available at all times, rather than relying on fossil fuels when nature isn’t cooperating.”

The challenge, however, wasn’t just scientific. Scaling from lab research to commercial-scale production required resources and strategic guidance. That’s when Yilmaz applied for the Faculty of Impact, a program designed to help academic researchers take their ideas to the next level. FOI gave Yilmaz and his team the financial means and coaching necessary to transform their research into a viable business.

“FOI helped us take the step from academic research to the real world. We founded the company, received guidance on legal aspects, and gained different perspectives from industry experts. While I believe our technology would have succeeded on its own, joining FOI fast-tracked our progress dramatically.”

The company, initially just a two-person operation, quickly grew as the technology matured with a team now of 40. Their vision? To create massive batteries capable of storing renewable energy for 100 hours—far exceeding the few hours typical of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

But the benefits of Yilmaz’s iron-air batteries extend far beyond their storage capacity. The materials required for this technology—iron, water, and air—are abundant and inexpensive. This makes the technology up to ten times cheaper than lithium-ion alternatives, which depend on rare, expensive materials like lithium, which is not readily available in Europe. Moreover, the iron-air batteries pose no fire risk, a significant safety concern with other battery types.

“The scalability and cost-effectiveness of our technology make it the most promising solutions for energy storage,” Yilmaz says. “We’re not dependent on scarce raw materials, which is a huge advantage. Plus, we can store energy for much longer than other battery systems—making it possible to keep renewable energy available around the clock, not just when the sun is out or the wind is blowing.”

With production facilities now under construction and partnerships forming with major industry players, Yilmaz’s company is on the verge of a breakthrough. Large fields of iron-air batteries are being designed to support solar and wind farms, either on-site or in separate locations connected to the grid.

Looking back, Yilmaz is proud of how far they’ve come. “My dream has always been to create something that makes real impact on the planet,” he reflects. “During my PhD, I knew this technology had the potential to change the world. Now, we’re finally at the point where we can make renewable energy available at all times, on a global scale. It’s incredibly exciting.”