QuinteQ

QuinteQ Energy B.V. is a Dutch cleantech firm commercializing an advanced flywheel energy storage system, operating as a key player in the energy transition market. The company was established in the Netherlands in 2016 following initial discussions between the founders and The Boeing Company in 2015. The founding team consists of CEO Paul Vosbeek, a cleantech entrepreneur, CTO Wouter Biemans, an aerospace engineer, and CSO Darin Olson, a material scientist. Their collaboration began in 2017, leading to the formalization of QuinteQ.

The core of QuinteQ's business is a kinetic battery technology originally developed by Boeing for defense and space applications. In 2018, QuinteQ secured a worldwide exclusive license to over 200 of Boeing's patents related to this flywheel technology, enabling its further development and commercialization. This intellectual property provides a significant barrier to entry for competitors. The company has since focused on adapting this high-tech solution for civilian and military energy markets, establishing its production in the Netherlands.

QuinteQ's business model revolves around providing a solution for short-duration energy storage, specifically targeting applications that experience frequent and high power peaks. The company serves a diverse client base across several sectors, including port electrification, construction sites, public transport like metros and trains, and defense. For instance, they assist port operators in electrifying cranes without needing immediate, costly grid upgrades and help stabilize microgrids for the Dutch Ministry of Defense. Revenue is generated through the sale of these containerized flywheel systems and potentially through Energy-as-a-Service models.

The product is a flywheel system that stores kinetic energy by spinning a lightweight carbon fiber rotor at very high speeds, up to 22,500 RPM. A key feature is the use of superconductive crystals and a 100% magnetically levitated rotor, which makes the system virtually frictionless. This results in high round-trip efficiency (over 98%) and minimal standby energy losses. The system is designed for a long operational life of over 15-20 years and can perform an almost unlimited number of charge-discharge cycles without performance degradation. Delivered in a modular, containerized format, the solution is scalable and can be deployed to manage power peaks, provide voltage control, and ensure grid stability.

Keywords: flywheel energy storage, kinetic battery, grid stabilization, peak shaving, energy transition, microgrids, Boeing technology, magnetic levitation, high-speed rotor, port electrification, construction energy, defense energy systems, short-duration storage, power quality, sustainable energy, cleantech, frequency regulation, kinetic energy, containerized energy storage, electrical grid support