AQUABATTERY raises €6 million in seed funding for the development of a saltwater flow battery for long-term energy storage (LDES).
AQUABATTERY, a Dutch climate-tech startup developing a long-term energy storage (LDES) solution using water and table salt, has raised €6 million in seed funding. The round was led by EIT InnoEnergy, with co-investors InnovationQuarter, Invest-NL, Init Power, and a group of business angels.
This marks an important milestone for the company as it prepares to bring affordable, sustainable LDES to the European market from 2026 onwards. Commenting on the successful round, CEO and co-founder Jiajun Cen said: “The capital will accelerate the development of our first standardized battery module and facilitate the recruitment of top talent.”
AQUABATTERY is developing a new flow battery capable of storing renewable electricity for 8+ hours in table salt and water. During charging, the battery converts saltwater into acid and base, and reverses the process during discharge. The startup is preparing to launch its fourth pilot battery in Delft later this autumn.
Roel van Diepen, Investment Director at EIT InnoEnergy Benelux, said about the deal: “It confirms the key role we expect flow batteries to play in our energy system and that the technology is evolving into commercially viable solutions.”
As the European Union aims to triple its renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, LDES will be crucial in providing intraday, multi-day, and seasonal flexibility. Bram Sprangers of Invest-NL adds that the energy transition will benefit from solutions such as AQUABATTERY, as “long-duration energy storage will become a cornerstone for integrating renewable energy sources into the power grid, addressing grid congestion, and accelerating industrial decarbonization.”
In addition to AQUABATTERY’s value for a net-zero energy system, the use of table salt and water as non-scarce and non-toxic materials delivers social and environmental benefits in the Netherlands and beyond. Nathal van Rijn, Director at InnovationQuarter, said: “We are pleased to invest in a sustainable storage system with a low environmental impact and strong potential to scale battery capacity worldwide in the coming years.”
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