Flywheel energy storage tech developed by Qnetic is to undergo detailed analysis in the US by the independent research organisation EPRI.

Qnetic told Batteries International on August 18 it had entered the Electric Power Research Institute’s ‘deRisked’ programme — where its Pulsar system will undergo a comprehensive independent evaluation of its performance, safety, reliability and commercial readiness.

The announcement came just weeks after US-headquartered Qnetic began assembly of its first full-scale 200kWh Pulsar prototype and started building a test facility in China.

The deRisk (readiness informed by shared knowhow, evaluation and data) programme provides independent technical due diligence for emerging storage technologies. Assessment includes testing and data analysis to help utilities evaluate new technologies based on objective performance data rather than vendor claims.

Qnetic’s evaluation is sponsored by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Qnetic signed a contract to set up its California testing centre in Sacramento in 2025 as a next step toward full-scale manufacturing.

Pulsar stores electricity mechanically rather than chemically, using a high-speed composite rotor suspended inside a vacuum enclosure.

Unlike lithium ion batteries, the technology is designed to deliver decades of operation with minimal performance degradation, virtually unlimited cycling capability, rapid response times and predictable lifetime economics, Qnetic claimed.

Target markets for the system include AI data centres, renewable energy integration, grid balancing, microgrids and industrial facilities.

Qnetic CEO Michael Pratt said: “Independent validation has become just as important as technical innovation. By participating in EPRI’s programme and sharing extensive prototype and pilot data, we’re giving utilities the transparency they need to evaluate our technology on its technical merits and better understand where flywheel energy storage delivers the greatest value.”