Test with super battery at Schiphol: a worldwide first at the airport
(Photography: Schiphol/Roger Cremers)
June 26, 2024 – Schiphol will be the first airport worldwide to test a so-called Iron Flow Battery. The large battery, recently installed on the A/B platform, provides a reliable power supply for charging electrical equipment, while also relieving the grid. The Iron Flow Battery is distinguished by the operation of natural materials. Unlike commonly used lithium batteries, the battery works on an iron and salt water basis
The Iron Flow Battery will be extensively tested in the coming months. During this test phase, the battery supplies the electric Ground Power Units (e-GPUs) on the A/B platform with power. These e-GPUs supply electricity to aircraft that are on the ground, where there is no fixed power supply.
The Iron Flow Battery was developed and built by ESS Inc in Oregon, USA. The management and use of the battery are provided by Volker Infra and KES. The battery is partly subsidized by the EU and is therefore part of TULIPS, a European partnership of 32 aviation parties and knowledge institutes, led by the Royal Schiphol Group.
