Energy storage solutions group Quidnet Energy said the company has successfully completed demonstration and testing of its Geomechanical Energy Storage (GES) technology at a megawatt-hour (MWh) scale.
Quidnet, headquartered in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 26 said tests confirm that its GES solution can deliver grid-scale energy storage. The company conducted MWh-scale functional testing and accelerated lifetime testing of the GES technology at its test site in the Houston area.
Company officials said that in addition to proving the viability of its technology at grid-scale, Quidnet’s results validated the capabilities of the GES technology across critical performance benchmarks, including negligible self-discharge and capacity degradation. These metrics provide real-world validation of GES as a long-life asset for supporting grid stability and delivering reliable power.
“Achieving this level of performance and scale marks a major milestone in our development of the GES technology,” said Joe Zhou, CEO of Quidnet Energy. “These tests confirm that our storage technology is ready for commercial deployments just as electrical grids grapple with the rapid rise in load growth from industrial electrification and AI data centers. With a mature, well-established supply chain and proven technology, we look forward to delivering GES at scale at a critical time for the energy industry.”
According to Quidnet, the GES technology “stores energy as high-pressure water underground to meet the demand for reliable power. The entire module is built on conventional drilling technology and mature hydropower technology. Facilities operate with closed-loop water systems, designed for conservation against evaporative loss. The energy-storing rock bodies found abundantly throughout the world, intersecting with major electricity transmission and distribution hubs.”
Quidnet said the MWh field test in Texas highlights the market potential for providing reliable power in its home state, which has struggled with power supply issues in recent years. Texas also is expected to experience some of the largest increases in electricity demand in the coming years, including from the growth in energy-intensive data centers. The state’s power problems also have underscored the need to prepare for weather-related grid events by developing more reliable and stable power resources.
These tests of the GES technology also mark a milestone in Quidnet’s developmental support from Dallas-based Hunt Energy Network after that Hunt’s $10-million investment announced last year.
“With the completion of these tests, we are excited to see Quidnet demonstrate the viability of their GES technology at MWh scale and further establish confidence for the durability of this storage solution,” said Pat Wood, CEO of Hunt Energy Network. “As Quidnet prepares for commercial projects, we look forward to collaborating with the company on our 300 MW partnership for storage in Texas.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
