At the 2025 Battery Show, Torus‘ Nova Pulse energy storage system drew attention as a U.S.-built leap forward in grid energy security and stability. The system reflects Munro & Associates’ ongoing interest in lean engineering, cost reduction, and supply chain resilience. Combining flywheel inertia with advanced cyber defense, Torus redefines what utility-grade energy storage can deliver to industrial and data-center clients.
Inertia as a New Power Standard
Modern grids increasingly rely on renewables and distributed assets that lack the mechanical inertia of conventional turbines. Torus closes that gap. Its Nova Pulse storage platform uses flywheel technology to stabilize voltage and frequency within milliseconds — performance critical for AI data centers and automated factories operating at micron-level tolerances.
For context, a 1-megawatt GPU stack can demand response in less than 10 milliseconds. Torus systems capture that in 5 to 8 milliseconds, holding power quality where standard batteries falter.
Built for Utility-Scale Integration
Unlike shipping-container designs, Nova Pulse uses a purpose-built pod optimized for power conditioning and modular deployment. Each unit integrates flywheel inertia, lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery storage, and proprietary software. Together they form a grid-forming system rather than a grid-following one — a critical distinction for operators facing unplanned frequency events.
Torus reports more than 300 real-world dispatches this year for demand response and frequency regulation. These events prove the Nova Pulse platform can act as a distributed mini-plant, delivering two- to four-hour capacity runs for large-scale utilities or data centers.
Full North American Supply Chain
Another differentiator is supply origin. The complete Torus family — including hardware, firmware, and software — is designed and manufactured within 150 miles of its South Salt Lake City headquarters. Components such as LFP cathode materials trace back to First Phosphate Corporation in Quebec and Ultion Technologies in Nevada.
This tri-company collaboration established what they describe as the first fully North American LFP battery supply chain. First Phosphate refines igneous rock from Quebec into ultra-pure phosphoric acid. Ultion converts that feedstock into high-power LFP cells. Torus then integrates those cells with its inertial energy modules to deliver the finished Nova Pulse product.
Lean Design and Vertical Integration
The partnership demonstrates lean design in practice. Each participant controls upstream and downstream flow, reducing shipping distance, tariff exposure, and inventory risk. As a result, manufacturing loops shorten, and product validation cycles accelerate.
Munro & Associates often stresses these same lean principles in teardown analysis — fewer suppliers, simpler logistics, faster iteration. Torus embodies that philosophy by vertically integrating electronics, structure, and software under one roof.
Cybersecurity as a Core Function
Power quality alone does not define Nova Pulse. Torus embeds active cyber defense into each system through its Shield module. The Shield monitors both physical and digital attack surfaces — including 24/7 video and infrared surveillance, plus protection against distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) intrusions.
According to Torus, its infrastructure deflects 4,000 to 5,000 cyberattacks per week. This hardened perimeter is vital for utilities, which increasingly treat cybersecurity as part of grid reliability rather than IT overhead. No competing energy storage company offers a comparable dual-layer defense system integrated at the hardware level.
Real-World Use Cases
Torus targets three main sectors:
- Data Centers: Providing megawatt-scale backup and frequency stability for GPU farms running latency-sensitive AI operations.
- Industrial Manufacturing: Delivering clean behind-the-meter power for precision machining and robotics, where even a millisecond drop can scrap expensive parts.
- Utilities: Acting as modular capacity blocks in tolling and capacity agreements, offering rapid dispatch and grid-forming functions during peak events.
Each use case validates the same design ethos — distributed reliability through high-speed inertial response.
Engineering Beyond the Container
The pod architecture represents a philosophical shift away from containerized energy storage. By rejecting standard 40-foot frames, Torus optimized airflow, heat management, and safety systems around function rather than form. Integrated fire suppression and cold-floor design maintain thermal equilibrium under heavy load.
Moreover, the rounded profile reduces mechanical stress points and enhances acoustic isolation. For customers managing sensitive environments — from semiconductor fabs to AI clusters — these design choices translate directly into uptime and yield protection.
Collaboration Rooted in Shared Values
Torus CEO Nate Walkingshaw emphasized the cultural alignment driving the alliance with Ultion and First Phosphate. All three firms prioritize family-style teams, open communication, and U.S.-led manufacturing. Ultion CEO Johnny summarized it simply: lithium-iron-phosphate may have scaled in China, but its origin — and future — are American.
Together, they showcase a viable domestic ecosystem for critical materials, cell production, and system assembly. For U.S. policymakers and investors, that alignment reinforces the strategic value of local energy storage capability.
Why Inertial Systems Matter
Traditional batteries handle duration but not instantaneous frequency response. Inertial storage provides both. Flywheels store kinetic energy in a vacuum-sealed rotor, responding instantly to load changes. By coupling this with batteries, Torus achieves both immediate and sustained power support — something neither technology alone could offer.
As renewable penetration rises, grid operators face lower system inertia and higher volatility. Nova Pulse restores that missing stability while delivering dispatchable energy at utility scale.
Outlook and Industry Impact
With national incentives pushing for U.S.-made clean-energy systems, Torus’ model arrives at the right time. By combining mechanical inertia, LFP chemistry, and secure networking, it represents a new generation of hybrid energy assets. The company’s regional supply chain further insulates it from tariff risks and offshore dependencies.
For engineers and investors, the Nova Pulse storage system exemplifies how design innovation and supply localization can move energy security forward without sacrificing performance or cost.
Learn More with Munro
Explore how lean design, teardown benchmarking, and domestic integration shape the next era of grid technology.
Visit Munro & Associates or follow Munro Live for more expert analysis, cost breakdowns, and teardown reviews of systems like Torus’ Nova Pulse storage platform — where engineering precision meets resilient energy design.