Meet Joost van der Kraan and Team SOLID at the WoTS

Joost van der Kraan and SOLID are developing a groundbreaking method in the Future Energy Lab in Budel to safely and efficiently store hydrogen in iron pellets, a crucial step in the energy transition. Discover at the World of Industry, Technology & Science (WoTS) how this project contributes to the sustainability of the industry and why it is Student Innovation Pavilion is a must-see.

Project of the TU Eindhoven

Joost van der Kraan, a mechanical engineering student at Eindhoven University of Technology, has put his studies on hold to act as team manager of SOLID. His role involves bringing the team together and motivating them, and stimulating their shared mission: contributing to the energy transition and sustainability. “Hydrogen is a hot topic in the energy transition,” Joost explains. “It helps to make industries more sustainable where electricity is insufficient or where grid congestion is a problem.”

Iron Based Hydrogen Storage

The technique the team is developing offers a revolutionary way to safely and efficiently store hydrogen, a sustainable but difficult to handle gas, in iron pellets. “Hydrogen needs to be stored in large tankers, which is inefficient for transportation,” says Joost. “Also, it easily escapes from tanks. Our Iron Based Hydrogen Storage method solves these problems and offers a safe and efficient storage option.” Like any innovative project, they had to overcome obstacles. “The biggest challenges we faced were financing and gaining expertise in working with hydrogen and high temperatures,” Joost shares. “However, we managed these challenges well by pooling knowledge and finding the right resources.”

Importance of the WoTS for SOLID

For a student team, participating in trade fairs like WoTS is invaluable. “Our technology is still relatively unknown,” says Joost. “WoTS offers us a platform to show our innovation to a wider audience and to talk to companies that can help us achieve our mission.” The trade fair allows the team to gain visibility and make valuable connections within the industry. “We want to learn what companies need and how we can make our technology a success together,” adds Joost. “It offers a platform to show what you stand for and how you can contribute.”

Looking ahead to the future

While SOLID’s goal is not to commercialize the technology itself, they do want to bridge the gap between academic development and industrial application. “We are working on more efficient and larger installations that can be tested in industry,” says Joost. “Our goal is to bring the technology to a point where industry can start working with it.”

Networks and Development

Networking during WoTS offers many advantages for the further development of Iron Based Hydrogen Storage. “It allows us to talk to people from the industry in real time about their expectations and needs,” says Joost. “The knowledge and expertise you gain are indispensable, and the new contacts you make can be valuable for further collaboration.” SOLID is looking for partners from the entire hydrogen chain: producers, users, transporters and installers. “We want to talk to everyone in that chain to lay the framework for the future of this technology,” says Joost.

Come visit the Student Pavilion

Are you interested in the future of hydrogen storage and do you want to contribute to the energy transition? Then visit SOLID at the Studeten Pavilion at WoTS. “Tell us where you are in the chain, so that we can continue to work together on a solution,” Joost invites.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an innovation that can change the world of energy storage. Visit the Student Pavilion and discover how their technology can make a difference in the future of sustainable energy.
Register for a visit from September 24 to 27.