Market update · Global
Qnetic Advances Flywheel Energy Storage with 200 kWh Pulsar Prototype
Sacramento-based startup Qnetic is developing a flywheel energy storage system called Pulsar, designed for grid-scale applications with an initial capacity of 200 kWh, expandable to 500 kWh. The technology aims to address limitations of lithium-ion batteries by offering high cycle life and minimal degradation. Pulsar has completed initial testing and is slated for a pilot program with Sacramento Municipal Utility District in 2027.
SolTraCo market update · · 3 min readPulsar Flywheel Energy Storage System
Qnetic's Pulsar prototype represents a continuation of the company's mechanical flywheel storage architecture, initially offering 200 kWh capacity with a nominal discharge rate of 125 kW, expandable to 500 kWh on the same platform. The system stores energy kinetically in rapidly spinning rotors, converting surplus electricity into rotor acceleration and generating power by converting kinetic energy back to electricity when needed.
The system's motor has demonstrated 130 kW power output at 97.3% efficiency with rotor speeds exceeding 11,000 rpm. Pulsar units are designed for four-hour storage durations, meeting many utility requirements, and can be grouped into banks for extended discharge periods.
Testing and Production Plans
Qnetic has begun low-speed testing of the Pulsar system at its technology center in Shanghai, China. The prototype successfully completed its first 100 continuous charge-discharge cycles without faults or capacity degradation. The company has established a factory and headquarters in Sacramento for low-volume commercial production.
Pulsar will be evaluated in a pilot program by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) under a risk-reduction initiative led by the Electric Power Research Institute, with plans to start the pilot in the first half of 2027.
Advantages Over Lithium-Ion Batteries
Qnetic's CEO Michael Pratt highlighted that flywheel technology addresses key shortcomings of lithium-ion batteries, particularly cycle life and degradation over time. While lithium-ion batteries typically perform one cycle per day and degrade with use, flywheels can cycle repeatedly without losing capacity.
Flywheels have traditionally been used for short-duration, high-power applications such as backup power and fusion experiments. Qnetic aims to extend this technology for long-duration grid storage, providing a durable alternative to battery-based energy storage systems.
Sources
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