Qnetic Begins Construction of the World’s Largest Flywheel Energy Storage Test Facility and Assembles First 200-kWh “Pulsar” Prototype
Qnetic begins building the world's largest flywheel test facility in Shanghai and assembles its first full-scale 200-kWh Pulsar prototype ahead of 2027 pilots.
The company achieves two major milestones on the path to commercializing mechanical energy storage technology – without chemicals, degradation, or fire risk.
Shanghai – Energy technology company Qnetic has reached two significant milestones in the commercialization of its innovative flywheel energy storage technology. Construction has begun at the company’s Technology Center in Shanghai on what will become the world’s largest dedicated test facility for flywheel systems. At the same time, assembly is underway for the company’s first full-scale prototype: a 200-kilowatt-hour system named Pulsar.
A test facility on an unprecedented scale
The purpose-built test facility represents an investment of more than US$1 million and will serve as the central platform for validating the performance, safety, and reliability of Qnetic’s next-generation flywheel systems. Extensive excavation and foundation work are currently in progress. Once completed, the Pulsar prototype will be installed and comprehensive validation testing will begin. The design of the facility was developed in collaboration with one of the world’s leading specialists in high-speed spin testing.
According to the engineering partner, Qnetic’s flywheel system stores substantially more energy than conventional high-speed spin test applications. As a result, the associated containment and safety requirements are exceptional and operate on a scale rarely encountered in existing testing infrastructure.
Energy storage without chemistry
Unlike batteries, which store energy electrochemically, a flywheel stores energy in the form of kinetic energy. A rotor spins at nearly three times the speed of sound inside a vacuum enclosure, supported by magnetic bearings that virtually eliminate friction. When electricity is needed, the rotating mass drives a generator, returning power to the grid.
Because the system relies on no electrochemical reactions, Qnetic says its technology can operate for decades with minimal degradation while offering rapid response times, unlimited cycling capability, and eliminating both fire risk and dependence on critical minerals.
“These milestones represent a defining moment in Qnetic’s transition from technology development to commercialization,” said Michael Pratt, CEO of Qnetic. “Building the world’s largest flywheel test facility while simultaneously bringing our first Pulsar system into validation demonstrates both the maturity of our technology and our confidence in its commercial potential. We are creating the infrastructure needed to prove performance at scale and accelerate customer deployment.”
Value, not cost
Qnetic argues that the primary advantage of its technology is economic rather than technical. Lithium-ion batteries are effectively limited to approximately one full charge-discharge cycle per day due to degradation and warranty constraints. By contrast, Qnetic’s flywheel systems can be charged and discharged multiple times per day, allowing storage assets to generate significantly greater revenue throughout their operational life.
Looking toward 2030, the company projects that its Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) will be roughly half that of comparable lithium-ion systems over the full lifetime of the asset.
The company also highlights supply-chain resilience. While approximately 95 percent of battery cells are manufactured in China, Qnetic’s systems are built from globally available materials including carbon fiber, steel, aluminum, and copper.
Applications: from AI data centers to microgrids
The 200-kWh Pulsar system is designed for applications including AI data centers, renewable energy time shifting, grid stabilization, microgrids, and industrial energy resilience.
For AI data centers, where electricity demand can fluctuate by hundreds of megawatts within milliseconds, Qnetic introduced the concept of “AI-Grade Energy Storage” in June 2026.
The technology is intended to complement or replace lithium-ion batteries wherever long operational life, unlimited cycling, sustainability, and predictable lifecycle costs are critical requirements.
Financing and outlook
According to the company, Qnetic completed a financing round under the U.S. Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) framework in March 2026. Qnetic states that it has raised additional capital through previous financing rounds and intends to continue strengthening its capital base as part of its ongoing growth strategy.
The company further reports non-binding Letters of Intent (LOIs) with prospective customers, including Arevon. According to Qnetic, it has also established research and technology collaborations with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the National Lab of the Rockies (formerly NREL) to support the validation of its technology. The first customer pilot projects are planned for early 2027, subject to project progress and further development milestones.
About Qnetic
Qnetic develops advanced flywheel energy storage systems that provide safe, durable, and cost-effective long-duration energy storage for the modern power grid. Its proprietary technology combines high-performance mechanical energy storage with advanced control systems to support renewable energy integration, grid flexibility, microgrids, and industrial resilience.
The company is headquartered in New York with additional locations in Sacramento, Shanghai, Singapore, and Germany. Qnetic was founded by Michael Pratt (CEO) and Loïc Bastard (CTO). For more information, visit www.qnetic.energy.
Investor note
Qnetic’s current crowdfunding round in partnership with DealMaker offers retail investors an opportunity to participate in the company’s next growth phase. To review offering documents, risk disclosures, and investor FAQs, visit https://invest.qnetic.energy.
