Clean energy technology startup Qnetic has closed a $5 million funding round – its largest to date – to equip a California manufacturing centre for low-volume production of its Q500 long-duration flywheel energy storage systems.
The raise brings total capital over the past 12 months to $7.1 million, including last year’s $2.1 million equity crowdfunding campaign. Early investors have seen around 25% asset appreciation following equity conversion.
The funds will support US and international utility pilots, plus expanded field testing with partners like the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and National Lab of the Rockies over the next 18–24 months.
Qnetic’s solid-state mechanical batteries store energy as rotational kinetic energy, delivering key advantages over lithium-ion for high-cycle grid applications: 30-year life with no degradation, unlimited daily charge-discharge cycling, operation across extreme temperatures, and zero thermal runaway risk. The company claims roughly half the levelised cost of storage (LCOS) of Li-ion systems.
CEO Michael Pratt highlighted market readiness for US-made alternatives free of mineral supply chain constraints. “Utilities need reliable diurnal storage now. Our metal, magnet, and carbon fibre flywheels deliver decades of performance where lithium falls short,” he said.
The technology targets 4–12 hour discharge profiles for renewables integration – solar day shifting and wind smoothing – as grids face growing curtailment pressure. Qnetic positions the Q500 for peak shaving, frequency response, and backup where degradation-free cycling trumps short-term capacity.
With first systems due for deployment this year, the funding accelerates validation against electrochemical incumbents. Flywheels have historically struggled on cost, but Qnetic’s design emphasises serial production and LCOS parity to challenge the battery status quo.
