From student to stack engineer: “I improve batteries for large-scale applications.”

Collaborative, fun, and occupied.

Every assignment required working in a team. It was rewarding to work with people from different cultures and backgrounds because I got to see things from their perspective. However, everyone had their own way of working. For example, if a project deadline was in 30 days, some preferred to take breaks, while others liked finishing ahead of time, so they could move on to something else. I had to learn to adjust to others, and that experience taught me a lot.

Among many memorable moments, one that has stayed with me is my master’s thesis at TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. My project was about integrating intermittent power, such as solar and wind, with an electrolyser, a device that produces hydrogen from water. I had to tweak a few parameters to see how they would affect hydrogen production. One key finding was that different conditions, such as alternating currents, caused the materials inside the electrolyser to degrade over time.

But the real learning experience was when some equipment broke down, and I had to wait for a few weeks before I could start over and repeat the experiments. The project, which was supposed to take five months, ended up taking ten. My patience was tested, but that was how I learned to handle setbacks and stay resilient when things don’t go as planned.

At Elestor, we manufacture industrial-scale batteries, which are much bigger than those in phones or electric cars. They are designed for remote locations without grid access or for large industrial facilities. We are also developing a new kind of battery chemistry to improve battery performance, lifespan, and safety. It uses hydrogen and iron to store and release energy. All the chemical reactions within the battery take place in a stack. And, in my role as a stack engineer, I am involved in designing, prototyping, testing, and optimising these stacks.

It is a responsible role as I need to handle a range of tasks and ensure the stacks are efficient and durable: they need to last for years. I act as a bridge between the design and R&D teams. No two weeks are the same. Some of my tasks include turning 3D designs into prototypes, conducting performance tests, and troubleshooting issues. I also contribute to material selection for the stacks. That means researching what is available on the market and collaborating with suppliers. I am also responsible for post-testing: if something breaks down unexpectedly, I analyse what went wrong and improve the next design.

Being part of the energy transition is my biggest source of motivation. I enjoy working on new challenges, especially in long-duration energy storage (LDES), which is a step forward in making energy systems cleaner.

I heard about Elestor from a friend who got a traineeship there. I looked into the company and liked what they do: it matched my background and interests. I chose the Master’s because I wanted to learn more about batteries and energy storage, in addition to hydrogen, wind, and solar energy. I believe there is a strong focus on energy production these days, while storage is equally important. The practical experience I gained during my internship and thesis project helped me secure the job.

My thesis helped me gain hands-on skills, such as testing systems, building stacks, and troubleshooting. The courses gave me a strong foundation, especially in energy storage: for example, storing energy in different forms and with different chemistries.

I am still learning patience. Working on innovative designs takes time, and development takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. I have also learned to embrace the process of trial and error: it is awesome to make new designs, but the tricky part is when something doesn’t work. Then I have to go back and figure out what has gone wrong. It is challenging, but that keeps my work exciting.

I want to continue contributing to the energy transition and specifically to technologies that reduce pressure on the power grid. I would like to grow into a project engineering lead role and potentially contribute to upscaling stacks to large-scale energy storage systems.

Be patient and stay curious. The university gives you a solid theoretical foundation, but it is up to you to gain experience. I encourage you to do an internship or a thesis project at a company. Also, talk with people and network. That is essential: you never know who might help you down the road.