REDstack

REDstack operates as a key developer in the advanced electromembrane technology sector, focusing on electrodialysis (ED) and reverse electrodialysis (RED) to provide solutions for energy generation, water treatment, and resource recovery. The company originated in 2005 as a spin-off from Wetsus, the European center of excellence for sustainable water technology. It was founded by Pieter Hack, an entrepreneur with a background in environmental technology and water treatment from Wageningen University, who envisioned commercializing 'Blue Energy'. This energy is generated from the salinity gradient where freshwater and saltwater meet.

A significant milestone was achieved in 2014 with the inauguration of the world's first RED power plant on the Afsluitdijk in the Netherlands. This 50 kW pilot facility demonstrated the real-world viability of producing continuous, CO2-free energy by mixing fresh water from the IJsselmeer with salt water from the Wadden Sea. This achievement earned REDstack the title of National Icon in 2016. Building on its initial focus, REDstack has broadened its technology applications. Its core business revolves around the design and production of ElectroMembrane Stacks, which are marketed as a platform technology. These stacks are utilized for various industrial purposes, including the energy-efficient removal of salt from water (electrodialysis) and, with the integration of bipolar membranes, the recovery of resources like nitrogen and lithium, as well as carbon capture from alkaline solutions. The company claims its systems are up to three times more energy-efficient than conventional ED systems.

REDstack's business model involves collaborating with partners to integrate its stacks into larger industrial processes, thereby contributing to a circular economy. Clients include industrial water treatment companies and partners in the direct air and ocean carbon capture space. The company is currently scaling up its operations and, through a partnership with technology company Demcon, is building an automated production facility in Heerenveen, expected to be operational by April 2026. This expansion is supported by venture capital funding from investors including Pure Terra Ventures, Noordelijke Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (NOM), and Easter Technology.

Keywords: Reverse Electrodialysis, Blue Energy, Salinity Gradient Power, ElectroMembrane Stacks, Electrodialysis, water treatment, resource recovery, carbon capture, nitrogen recovery, desalination, sustainable energy, Wetsus, Pieter Hack, membrane technology, ion exchange membranes, circular economy, water technology, CO2 recovery, brackish water desalination, industrial water reuse