Qnetic Begins Testing New Flywheel Energy System
The Sacramento-based startup is testing a kinetic storage prototype intended to outperform traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Energy
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Sacramento-based startup Qnetic has begun low-speed testing of its Pulsar flywheel energy storage prototype. The prototype is currently in a research stage, with testing underway at a facility in Shanghai.
Why it matters
The Pulsar system aims to eliminate the capacity degradation and cycle-life limitations inherent in lithium-ion battery technology. The startup plans to scale the unit to a 500 kWh capacity for future utility-scale grid applications.
The Pulsar prototype currently provides 200 kWh of storage with a 125 kW discharge rate. During testing, the system reached speeds exceeding 11,000 rpm, achieving 97.3% efficiency for its 130 kW motor.
The players
Qnetic
A Sacramento-based energy storage startup developing mechanical flywheel technology.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
A community-owned electric utility provider serving the Sacramento area.
The details
The system stores kinetic energy by spinning a carbon fiber rotor—a high-strength composite material created via filament winding—in a vacuum to minimize drag. This rotor levitates on no-contact magnetic bearings, which eliminate mechanical friction. By avoiding chemical reactions, the design is intended to prevent the degradation issues that typically plague electrochemical storage methods.
Timeline
September 2026: Pulsar completed 100 continuous charge-discharge cycles.
First half of 2027: Target window for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to launch a pilot program.
The Tech Race
Qnetic is entering a competitive landscape dominated by electrochemical lithium-ion storage systems. The company is positioning its flywheel technology to solve cycle-life degradation, a known weakness of lithium-ion grid infrastructure.
Local residents served by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District may see this technology integrated into the power grid as part of a pilot program slated for next year. The system is currently in research, so it is not yet available for commercial or individual use.
The takeaway
Qnetic is working to prove that mechanical flywheel systems can outlast standard chemical batteries in grid-level storage applications. Watch for updates on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District pilot program, expected to begin in the first half of 2027.
What happens next
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District intends to begin a pilot program evaluating the Pulsar unit in the first half of 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Energy and how they compare to current grid standards.
Source note: This article includes information reported by pv magazine India.
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