High-efficiency and Ultra-low Emissions Linear Generator Demonstration Project in Southern California

The changing electricity landscape requires dispatchable generation to firm and support renewables and distributed generation to provide resilience when the grid is down. This dispatchable generation must also be efficient to minimize carbon emissions, ultra-low emission to minimize air criteria pollutants, and fuel-flexible to be able to operate on zero- and net-zero carbon fuels. 

Mainspring Energy’s new linear generator uses a low-temperature reaction of air and fuel to drive magnets through copper coils to efficiently produce electricity with near-zero NOx emissions. The linear generator offers customers an unmatched combination of high electrical efficiency, ultra-low emissions, operational and fuel flexibility, and low costs. 

The linear generator’s attributes enhance and support California’s energy, environmental, and resiliency goals as grid emissions continue to decrease and more renewables come online. Mainspring’s first commercial product is an ideal solution for commercial, industrial, and utility customers seeking local, scalable, fuel-flexible power. 

This project demonstrated the installation and operation of Mainspring’s linear generator at a grocery store in Colton, California. The project was successful and achieved its desired performance targets. Mainspring has announced follow-on projects with Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery chain, Lineage Logistics, the largest global cold-storage logistics company, and American Electric Power, a multi-state utility company focused on low-cost solutions for its customers.