RIFT and Kingspan Unidek sign historic first commercial contract for Iron Fuel Technology
Pioneering deal marks commercial launch of fossil-free industrial heat through Iron Fuel Technology
Dutch clean-tech developer RIFT and insulation manufacturer Kingspan Unidek have signed the world’s first commercial contract for Iron Fuel Technology. The agreement covers the delivery of an Iron Fuel Boiler and a long-term Iron Fuel supply contract, positioning Kingspan Unidek as the first company to implement the novel low-carbon fuel at an industrial scale.
Until now, industrial heat has remained one of the most difficult to decarbonize. Iron Fuel offers a rare combination of circularity, energy density, compatibility with existing systems, and safe transport and storage. This contract marks the first time these strengths will be commercially applied.
RIFT’s Iron Fuel Boiler will be installed at Kingspan Unidek’s facility in Gemert, the Netherlands. This milestone not only marks the commercial launch of RIFT’s technology but also supports Kingspan’s Planet Passionate sustainability goals by replacing fossil fuels with fully circular iron fuel.
From innovation to implementation
RIFT is a Dutch clean energy start-up developing a new circular technology: Iron Fuel. By combusting iron powder in a boiler, it can generate high-temperature heat without direct CO2 emissions. The resulting iron oxide is regenerated into new fuel using hydrogen, creating a fully circular system.
Following years of lab work, pilots, and demonstrations, the technology is now being commercially applied for the first time. The system at Kingspan Unidek will become the first full-scale, operational use of Iron Fuel Technology in an industrial setting. The boiler is expected to be operational by 2028, in line with typical timelines for permitting and industrial systems integration.
“This isn’t just a contract, it’s a statement”, says Mark Verhagen, CEO at RIFT. “It shows that clean industrial heat using Iron Fuel isn’t a far-off vision. With Kingspan Unidek, we’re making it real today. They’re not just an early adopter; they are a partner that understands the urgency and the opportunity of decarbonizing heat. This collaboration proves what’s possible when ambition meets action.”
A forward-thinking move from Kingspan
The partnership is part of Kingspan’s broader Planet Passionate sustainability program, aimed at reducing carbon emissions throughout its operations. By adopting Iron Fuel Technology, Kingspan Unidek not only lowers its emissions footprint, but also validates a new pathway for industrial clean energy.
“In our quest to reach our ambitious goals, we’ve seen many ideas. But few actually fit the reality of industrial production,” says Gene Murtagh, CEO at Kingspan. “What RIFT offers is refreshingly tangible: a solution that doesn’t ask us to overhaul our operations, but instead integrates into them. For us, this collaboration isn’t just a milestone, it’s a glimpse of how industrial decarbonization can truly work in practice.”
“At Kingspan, we’re committed to achieving net zero carbon manufacturing by 2030, and that requires bold thinking and practical action. RIFT’s technology aligns with our ambition not just because it’s sustainable, but because it’s scalable. This is the kind of partnership that helps translate long-term climate goals into real results on the ground.” By switching to iron fuel, Kingspan Unidek is expected to avoid more than 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually — a reduction equivalent to the yearly absorption capacity of approximately 250,000 trees.
A turning point for clean heat
With this first commercial deal, RIFT’s Iron Fuel Technology moves from promise to practice. Supported by a high-profile ecosystem of public and private partners – including PGGM, Invest-NL, and Breakthrough Energy Fellows (BE Fellows) - the company aims to expand capacity, scale deployments across Europe, and develop international projects in the years ahead.
The milestone is also recognized as a turning point by stakeholders across the innovation and investment landscape. From the academic community, Dr. Mark Boneschanscher, Managing Director of the Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems at Eindhoven University of Technology, emphasizes the broader impact: “With this step, RIFT and Kingspan show that there truly is a promising future for sustainable, energy-intensive industry in the Netherlands. At the same time, they are powerfully demonstrating the impact of iron fuel technology developed right here in North Brabant. I look forward with anticipation to the next steps in rolling out this innovative technology.”
Public investment institutions echo the significance of this first commercial deployment. “With this first commercial application, RIFT shows that complex energy innovations don’t have to remain stuck in the lab — they can be scaled for real industrial use. Invest-NL has supported RIFT since the scale-up phase, because their technology can play a key role in decarbonizing industrial heat,” says Rinke Zonneveld, CEO of Invest-NL.
Finally, institutional investor PGGM underscores the commercial and societal potential of the technology.“RIFT is a great example of a promising new green technology for decarbonizing industry. This contract proves that RIFT has developed its solution into a commercially attractive proposition for both investors and customers. PGGM invests in the energy transition on behalf of Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn — aiming not just for market returns, but also for solutions society truly needs. RIFT fits that ambition very well,” says Tim van den Brule, Investment Director at PGGM Infrastructure.