Made-In-The-US Flow Battery Technology Is Heading To India

The article highlights Quino Energy, a California-based startup developing advanced flow battery technology originally licensed from Harvard University, which is now expanding its presence to India. Flow batteries offer a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries by using two separate tanks of specialized, inert liquids that generate electricity when pumped adjacent to each other across a membrane. Quino’s innovation lies in its use of quinone-based, water-friendly electrolytes that allow the repurposing of carbon steel oil storage tanks, reducing costs and corrosion issues common with traditional vanadium-based flow batteries. Their system provides significantly longer energy storage durations—8 to 24 hours compared to the typical 2 to 4 hours of lithium-ion batteries—making it suitable for grid-scale renewable integration and backup power applications. Despite recent shifts in U.S. federal energy policy that could have hindered startups reliant on grants, Quino has successfully secured multiple rounds of funding from the Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission. These funds support ongoing R&D, lab-scale demonstrations