Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy Podcast

Quino Energy’s Flow Battery Bet on Safer, Longer Grid Storage

• Wes Ashworth

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Energy storage is no longer a future need. It is becoming the backbone of a reliable, renewable grid.

In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with Eugene Beh, Founder and CEO of Quino Energy, to explore one of the most important questions in the energy transition: how do we store renewable power affordably, safely, and for long durations?

Quino Energy is developing water-based organic flow batteries that store electricity in quinone molecules, a fundamentally different approach from lithium-ion batteries and traditional vanadium flow batteries. Instead of relying on expensive mined metals or flammable battery cells, Quino is focused on organic electrolytes that can potentially lower costs, improve safety, and scale through existing flow battery infrastructure.

Eugene breaks down the basics of flow batteries in simple terms, explaining how liquid electrolytes act like fuel tanks and how flow battery stacks function more like an engine. He also explains why Quino’s quinone-based electrolyte can work with existing vanadium flow battery hardware with minimal changes, creating a faster path to deployment.

The conversation goes deep into the real challenges of commercialization: manufacturing, degradation, bankability, safety, and proving performance in the field. Eugene shares how Quino’s continuous, zero-waste production process converts widely available dyestuff materials into battery-ready electrolyte without downstream purification. He also discusses why non-flammable storage matters for hospitals, communities, data centers, islands, military bases, and other critical infrastructure.

Listeners will also hear about Quino’s field demonstration plans, including a project serving a medical center in Lancaster, California, and the company’s strategy to repurpose existing tank storage infrastructure for grid-scale energy storage.

This episode is a clear, practical look at how chemistry, infrastructure, and manufacturing come together to solve one of the grid’s biggest bottlenecks.

Topics covered include:

  • Why long-duration energy storage is becoming essential
  • How flow batteries differ from lithium-ion batteries
  • Why quinone-based electrolytes could reduce flow battery costs
  • The safety and permitting advantages of non-flammable storage
  • How existing fuel tank infrastructure could become grid storage
  • Why data centers and critical facilities are strong early markets
  • What it takes to move battery chemistry from the lab to the field
  • How Quino Energy is approaching commercialization through partnerships

If you care about renewable energy, grid reliability, long-duration storage, battery innovation, or the future of clean infrastructure, this episode is a must-listen.

Links:
Eugene Beh on LinkedIn
Quino Energy's Website

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/


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Wes Ashworth

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