In this work, a novel way to indirectly store and produce H 2 from ethanol was investigated using a two-step process based on the reduction of iron oxide followed by oxidation with H 2 O. The reduction of different iron oxides, i.e., Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 and FeOOH, with ethanol to produce Fe o was investigated. TPRe (Temperature Programmed Reactions) and Mössbauer and XRD analyses showed that ethanol reduces Fe 2 O 3 sequentially to Fe 3 O 4 at 350–500°C, to Fe 3 O 4 /FeO at 500–600°C and finally to Fe o at 700°C. The formed Fe o can then be oxidized by H 2 O to produce H 2 and Fe 3 O 4 , as shown by Mössbauer and XRD analyses. Cyclic experiments showed that iron could be consecutively reduced/oxidized at least 5 times without any significant decrease in H 2 production after the second cycle. However, reactions of Fe 2 O 3 with ethanol at higher temperatures, i.e., 800 and 900°C, led to the formation of iron carbide and significant carbon deposition. XPS, SEM, TEM, Raman and TG showed 24–28wt% carbon content, particularly on the surface as nanofibers and as amorphous and graphitic carbon.