Technology company RIFT has selected the Port of Rotterdam as the location for a commercial-scale production facility for circular iron fuel.
A reservation agreement has been signed for a plot at Margriethaven on Maasvlakte, with the Port of Rotterdam Authority providing a greenfield site to support the next phase of development.
The proposed electrified facility will convert iron oxide (rust) into circular iron fuel using hydrogen with a low CO2 footprint.
The resulting material can be used by industrial customers to generate heat and steam without direct CO2 emissions at the point of use. The spent fuel is then centrally reprocessed and reused within the system.
RIFT is a technology scale-up focused on decarbonising industrial heat processes that are difficult to electrify directly, positioning iron fuel as an alternative energy carrier for high-temperature applications.
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The company identified Rotterdam as a strategic location for moving from development to industrial implementation, citing its hydrogen infrastructure, industrial base and logistics connectivity.
Mark Verhagen, CEO of RIFT, said: “Rotterdam brings together essential elements: access to hydrogen, industrial demand and a strong network of partners. Building on the support of InnovationQuarter, we are connecting production, infrastructure and application here and taking the next step towards realisation.”
The project will now move into a joint development phase between RIFT and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, focusing on further design refinement and integration into the wider industrial ecosystem at Maasvlakte.
RIFT expects the facility to become operational around 2031, subject to development milestones and permitting processes.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam – https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en
