Interview NRC: Rift

Iron fuel in the spotlight!🔥Today’s NRC dives into three Dutch companies reshaping the future of clean energy. One of them? RIFT, our portfolio partner turning circular iron fuel from bold concept into industrial reality.

The story takes you up an 18-metre test rig with founder Mark Verhagen, where iron powder ignites into 2000°C flames powerful enough to decarbonise manufacturing. But it’s more than just the tech that catches your attention: it traces the full arc from early experiments to commercial traction, with all the hurdles in between.

This feature is more than just a snapshot of a company. It’s an honest look at what it takes to crack the energy market: the patience to perfect the technology, the persistence to find the right partners, and the vision to see industrial transformation where others see just rust.

RIFT is proving that the most ambitious climate solutions often start with the simplest ideas. What starts with a handful of rust could help fuel the next industrial shift. 🔁

Well deserved recognition for Mark, Lex Scheepers, Vincent Seijger and the entire RIFT team.

Grab the paper or catch the full story online: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/08/28/van-ijzerpoeder-tot-geluidstrillingen-deze-drie-bedrijven-vonden-nieuwe-vormen-van-schone-energie-a4904381