Local power generation for the zero carbon future
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What we do
The Mainspring Linear Generator.
Reliable, Clean Power — at Any Scale.
We meet customers' capacity, resilience, and cost needs today while giving them the infrastructure to move to increasingly cleaner fuels as they become available.
Company's story
Our Specialty
High Efficiency
Direct conversion of linear motion into electricity
Mainspring’s linear generator is designed to enable high expansion of reacted gases and to electrically control the conversion of linear motion directly into electricity. High expansion allows for maximum extraction of reaction energy, and direct conversion eliminates mechanical losses — combining to enable high efficiency operation across all power output levels from 0 to 100%.
Near-Zero NOx Emissions
Low-temperature reaction without a flame
Mainspring’s linear generator uses a low-temperature, uniform reaction that maintains peak temperatures below the levels in which NOx forms (1500°C), resulting in near-zero NOx emissions. This is in contrast to the burning of a fuel with a flame, which creates high temperatures and high NOx emissions.
Fuel Flexible
Continuous, adaptive control without mechanical constraints
Mainspring’s linear generator technology continuously adjusts compression and expansion, allowing it to dynamically adjust for varying fuel quality and different types of fuels, including renewable fuels such as biogas, green ammonia, and green hydrogen.
Fully Dispatchable
Load tracking, fast on/off, black start, and islanding
Mainspring’s linear generators match power output with building demand while integrating with onsite solar and energy storage, enabling the continued rapid adoption of renewables. In addition, Mainspring’s technology provides power when the grid is down, making it the ideal backbone of any renewable microgrid.
Low Capital & Maintenance Costs
Standard materials, only two moving parts, and no oil
Mainspring’s linear generator is made out of standard materials with only two moving parts and operates without the use of oil or expensive fuel cell catalysts or complex engine mechanical systems — resulting in low capital and maintenance costs.
Turn-Key Packaging
Built-in grid-tie inverters and auxiliaries
Mainspring’s linear generator products combine grid-tie inverters and auxiliaries into turn-key packages for fast and simple installation. Designed for commercial businesses, Mainspring's first product is packaged in a standard 20’ container.
Direct conversion of linear motion into electricity
Mainspring’s linear generator is designed to enable high expansion of reacted gases and to electrically control the conversion of linear motion directly into electricity. High expansion allows for maximum extraction of reaction energy, and direct conversion eliminates mechanical losses — combining to enable high efficiency operation across all power output levels from 0 to 100%.
Near-Zero NOx Emissions
Low-temperature reaction without a flame
Mainspring’s linear generator uses a low-temperature, uniform reaction that maintains peak temperatures below the levels in which NOx forms (1500°C), resulting in near-zero NOx emissions. This is in contrast to the burning of a fuel with a flame, which creates high temperatures and high NOx emissions.
Fuel Flexible
Continuous, adaptive control without mechanical constraints
Mainspring’s linear generator technology continuously adjusts compression and expansion, allowing it to dynamically adjust for varying fuel quality and different types of fuels, including renewable fuels such as biogas, green ammonia, and green hydrogen.
Fully Dispatchable
Load tracking, fast on/off, black start, and islanding
Mainspring’s linear generators match power output with building demand while integrating with onsite solar and energy storage, enabling the continued rapid adoption of renewables. In addition, Mainspring’s technology provides power when the grid is down, making it the ideal backbone of any renewable microgrid.
Low Capital & Maintenance Costs
Standard materials, only two moving parts, and no oil
Mainspring’s linear generator is made out of standard materials with only two moving parts and operates without the use of oil or expensive fuel cell catalysts or complex engine mechanical systems — resulting in low capital and maintenance costs.
Turn-Key Packaging
Built-in grid-tie inverters and auxiliaries
Mainspring’s linear generator products combine grid-tie inverters and auxiliaries into turn-key packages for fast and simple installation. Designed for commercial businesses, Mainspring's first product is packaged in a standard 20’ container.
Our story
Driven by a vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid of the future
Mainspring was founded in 2010 by three Stanford engineers seeking a new approach to generating clean, resilient, affordable electricity. Their research into high-efficiency methods of converting fuel to electricity led to the founding of the company and the development and prototype of their first linear generator. They also built a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Today Mainspring brings together a diverse, talented team of individuals who share the vision to address the growing threat of climate change and the need for affordable electricity for all. Our executive team brings deep expertise from leading clean energy companies and is backed by top-tier venture, strategic, and financial investors.
Core Values
Pragmatic Optimism
Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.
Excellence Without Ego
We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.
Proactive Collaboration
The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.
Mainspring was founded in 2010 by three Stanford engineers seeking a new approach to generating clean, resilient, affordable electricity. Their research into high-efficiency methods of converting fuel to electricity led to the founding of the company and the development and prototype of their first linear generator. They also built a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Today Mainspring brings together a diverse, talented team of individuals who share the vision to address the growing threat of climate change and the need for affordable electricity for all. Our executive team brings deep expertise from leading clean energy companies and is backed by top-tier venture, strategic, and financial investors.
Core Values
Pragmatic Optimism
Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.
Excellence Without Ego
We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.
Proactive Collaboration
The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.
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