LiNova Energy launched PolyPower, a metal-free polymer cathode battery for data center backup power that eliminates ther
LiNova Energy announced the launch of PolyPower, a next-generation battery cell engineered specifically for data center backup power applications. The announcement was made on June 23, 2026 from Monrovia, California. With global data center power demand projected to nearly double by 2030, PolyPower is designed to meet mission-critical needs for backup power and performance with a combination of power density, safety, and cost.
PolyPower is powered by LiNova's polymer cathode, a proprietary, metal-free active material synthesized from mass-produced precursors that can be sourced domestically nearly anywhere. LiNova's cathodes eliminate major business and safety risks associated with conventional metal cathodes, which are subject to geopolitical risk and tariff volatility, and drive thermal runaway by releasing oxygen when they degrade under heat.
Mike Nagus, CEO of LiNova Energy, stated: "The battery cathode is the most expensive and dangerous component in the stack, and has historically been the least reinvented. With its superior performance and zero fire risk, PolyPower represents a fundamental breakthrough in battery technology for mission-critical applications. Our polymer cathode platform provides what data center operators need most: high power, uncompromising safety, and a clear path to lower-cost energy storage that can scale with AI and cloud demand."
PolyPower was developed in collaboration with a hyperscale data center operator to meet performance requirements for next generation backup battery units designed to exceed the capabilities of current systems. Independent third-party testing at the University of California San Diego demonstrated strong high-rate performance, with capacity retention exceeding hyperscaler benchmarks. In-house nail puncture tests resulted in no hazard or venting, and an in-house UL9540A simulation resulted in no thermal runaway for the PolyPower cell.
Mike Ferry, Director of Energy Storage and Systems at UC San Diego, said LiNova's cells are truly unique in the market after testing dozens of different battery chemistries over the past decade. He stated their testing results successfully demonstrate LiNova's ability to instantly deliver high power and stable performance under stressful conditions without the degradation mechanisms seen in other battery cells. Thomas Greszler, Cell Development Manager at Saft North America, confirmed that LiNova's technology is intrinsically safer than other lithium-ion chemistries and has shown no thermal runaway and reduced energy release under abuse conditions.
PolyPower builds on LiNova's original energy-optimized cell, now branded PolyEnergy, which is designed for high-energy applications. Together, these complementary solutions enable LiNova to address both power- and energy-intensive use cases across multiple sectors. LiNova's high-power cell is currently available for testing in a pouch-format design, with a cylindrical format expected in Q3 2026. The cells will be integrated into hyperscaler-spec battery backup units for performance testing in Q4 2026.
LiNova Energy develops domestically manufacturable, metal-free polymer cathode technology designed to enable ultra-high-energy and high-power batteries across a range of chemistries with no risk of thermal runaway. The company raised 15.8 million dollars in Series A financing in 2024.