C

Critical Loop

Mobile megawatt-scale storage with autonomous control

Overview

Critical Loop delivers mobile, megawatt-scale energy storage and control systems to quickly stabilize power for commercial and industrial sites. Its three-part product—Controller for autonomous power management, Combiner as a microgrid backbone, and relocatable air-cooled batteries—works with real-time telemetry in a batteries-as-a-service model to supply grid-stable power on demand. The company differentiates itself with a fully integrated hardware-software stack, rapid deployment timelines, autonomous optimization, and scalable capacity from single microgrids to multi-site deployments. Its goal is to make reliable, scalable power accessible wherever the existing grid struggles, keeping facilities online and reducing costs.

Significant Headcount Growth

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About Critical Loop

Simplify's Rating
Why Critical Loop is rated
C+
Rated C on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Data & AnalyticsIndustrial & ManufacturingEnergyEnterprise Software

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Series A

Total Funding

$26M

Headquarters

Long Beach, CA

Founded

2023

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What believers are saying

  • The October 27, 2026 SRG project validates demand for speed-to-power solutions.
  • Critical Loop says the Long Beach system reaches 25 MW within nine months.
  • San Diego International Airport and California EV sites provide referenceable operating deployments.

What critics are saying

  • SCE still must approve Critical Loop’s non-export interconnection before energizing Long Beach.
  • The $26 million Series A funds expansion, not proven manufacturing scale or margin durability.
  • If SRG delays feeder upgrades, Critical Loop’s 25 MW bridge project loses its core thesis.

What makes Critical Loop unique

  • Critical Loop’s Cygnus got CSIP 2030.5 and UL 3141 in September 2026.
  • Its CLB-5100 pairs relocatable batteries with software for utility-limited industrial campuses.
  • SRG Commercial chose Critical Loop as Southern California preferred microgrid partner through 2028.

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Funding

Total Funding

$26M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

1 Rounds

Series A funding typically happens when a startup has a product and some customers, and now needs funding to scale. This money is usually used to grow the team, expand marketing, and improve the product. Venture capital firms are frequently the main investors here.
Series A Funding Comparison
Above Average

Industry standards

$15M
$8.2M
$15M
$26M
$30M

Benefits

  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Company Equity

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

15%

1 year growth

15%

2 year growth

15%
Goal Matrix
Oct 28th, 2026
Critical Loop plans 25 MW industrial microgrid to bridge California grid delays.

Critical Loop plans 25 MW industrial microgrid to bridge California grid delays. Critical Loop and SRG Commercial have announced a 25 MW hybrid microgrid for a Southern California industrial campus, including 60 MWh of batteries to bridge a delayed utility upgrade. Critical Loop announced plans on October 27 for a 25 MW hybrid microgrid serving an SRG Commercial industrial campus in Southern California, where a planned utility upgrade will not arrive in time for a manufacturer's anticipated operating schedule. The project is intended to provide temporary power capacity while the site awaits its permanent grid connection. The Critical Loop microgrid design includes 12 MW of battery power with 60 MWh of storage, alongside existing utility service and dedicated emergency generation. Critical Loop describes the arrangement as an 18-month bridge solution, with a target of delivering the overall 25 MW system within nine months of contract execution. How the 25 MW industrial microgrid is designed to work. According to Critical Loop's October 27 announcement, the campus has approximately 7 MW of firm grid capacity and another 2 MW of flexible service. The planned microgrid is designed to manage the gap between that available supply and the tenant's higher power requirements. Battery storage is expected to supply power when site demand exceeds the available utility connection. Onsite generation would address remaining requirements, while 3.5 MW of dedicated emergency generation is intended to provide additional backup capability. The announced figures describe different functions within the power system. The 25 MW figure represents the proposed overall system capacity, while 12 MW describes battery discharge power and 60 MWh describes stored energy. These ratings should not be added together as if they were separate, continuously available sources of electricity. Critical Loop microgrid controls address limited grid imports. The project will use Critical Loop's CLB-5100 power system and Cygnus controller software. The company says the controller manages battery charging and discharging against site loads while enforcing grid-import limits. That coordination matters for facilities whose electrical demand can exceed the capacity of their existing utility connection. A controller must manage available grid power, battery state of charge and onsite generation without allowing the site's imports to exceed applicable limits. Microgrid Media has previously explained how microgrid interconnection requirements shape the design of systems that operate alongside a utility network. The SRG project illustrates a related challenge: using local resources to support an industrial load while permanent grid infrastructure remains constrained. A two-year partnership extends beyond one campus. Alongside the initial project, SRG Commercial named Critical Loop its preferred microgrid partner across Southern California for two years. The agreement creates a framework for considering similar solutions at other properties, although the announcement does not identify additional contracted campuses or their capacities. Critical Loop's company news archive also documents an earlier announcement concerning its controller's certification and interoperability testing. Those prior technical milestones are separate from the October 27 industrial deployment announcement. The initial project's operating timetable remains an important distinction. Critical Loop says its solution is designed to meet the tenant's early-2027 power requirements, but the announcement does not independently establish that the entire 25 MW system has been energized or commissioned. What to watch before commissioning. The next meaningful checkpoints for the Critical Loop microgrid will be equipment installation, confirmed energization, the operation of its storage and generation resources, and eventual transition to the permanent utility upgrade. The project is a concrete example of an industrial developer attempting to manage a grid-connection delay with local power infrastructure. Its ultimate performance, costs and operating benefits will depend on execution and actual operating results rather than the announced design alone. Jonas Muthoni is Editor-in-Chief of Microgrid Media, where he oversees reporting and analysis on microgrids, energy storage, distributed energy resources, data center power demand, grid modernization, resilience, renewable energy, and electricity policy and markets. His work focuses on the infrastructure, technologies, and regulatory developments reshaping the power system. As Editor-in-Chief, Jonas leads Microgrid Media's editorial strategy and standards, including story selection, source verification, technical accuracy, and the development of original reporting and analysis. His coverage draws on regulatory filings, government records, utility and company disclosures, technical documentation, and independent industry sources to explain significant developments across the evolving energy system.

Offshore Source
Oct 27th, 2026
Critical Loop debuts CLB-5100 Power System with 25 MW SRG COMMERCIAL deployment.

Critical Loop debuts CLB-5100 Power System with 25 MW SRG COMMERCIAL deployment. Flagship deployment introduces company's industrial portfolio model and secures multi-year preferred provider deal in Greater LA LONG BEACH, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Industrial power solutions provider Critical Loop, today announced the commercial launch of its CLB-5100 Power System. The launch debuts with a 25 megawatt hybrid microgrid deployment across a SRG COMMERCIAL (SRG) campus in Southern California, marking the first public application in partnership with SRG of Critical Loop's Power-Ready Industrial Portfolio model which enables real estate developers to pre-solve interconnection constraints across entire portfolios. Alongside the deployment, SRG has named Critical Loop its preferred microgrid partner across Southern California for the next 2 years. The flagship deployment addresses an urgent need for SRG's tenant, an advanced manufacturer operating under an early 2027 deadline. Regional utility energization did not align with the tenant's commercial operation date and conventional alternatives, such as standalone diesel generation, carry significantly higher operating costs and price uncertainty while lacking the appropriate power quality to support advanced manufacturing and AI loads. Critical Loop's turn-key bridge model delivers reliable, code-compliant power within the required timeframe at a fraction of the operating cost, with cleaner performance and a certified microgrid operator managing the system end to end. To meet the project deadline, Critical Loop is deploying an 18-month hybrid power solution to bridge the gap until the campus receives its permanent grid upgrade. Designed to deliver 25 MW of total capacity within just nine months from contract to energization, the architecture balances grid constraints, cost, and sustainability through a phased hierarchy of power sources. Because the local grid connection is limited to approximately 7 MW of firm capacity alongside a 2 MW flexible service connection, the system pulls additional headroom from the utility whenever power levels drop. To handle demand beyond grid limits, Critical Loop prioritizes battery storage as its primary means of power augmentation, minimizing both operating costs and emissions. The company will deliver 12 MW | 60 MWh of storage capacity across the campus. Onsite generation will fill any remaining operational gaps, while 3.5 MW of dedicated emergency backup generation stands ready to ensure uninterrupted reliability. "Real estate developers can't afford to have finished buildings sitting idle because the grid isn't ready," said Bala Ramamurthy, CEO of Critical Loop. "A completed building sitting idle due to grid delays is stranded capital. By addressing interconnection constraints at the portfolio level, we're removing the risk from utility timelines and giving developers a more predictable path to getting power-intensive operations online faster." At the center of the deployment is Critical Loop's domestically manufactured CLB-5100 power system, controlled by its Cygnus controller software. Cygnus enforces power import limits, manages battery charge and discharge relative to real-time site loads, and delivers a smooth, predictable power profile that tenants can plan operations around. Cygnus holds dual UL 3141 and IEEE 2030.5 certifications and has completed interoperability testing with PG&E, enabling flexible interconnection for projects across California with both SCE and PG&E. "Power constraints can derail an entire development pipeline if you let them," said Scott Mulkay, Senior Vice President at SRG COMMERCIAL. "By partnering with Critical Loop, we are pre-solving the time-to-power problem before tenants lease our developments. It allows us to move at the speed our tenants require, rather than waiting on utility timelines." Beyond the inaugural project, the two-year preferred provider agreement positions Critical Loop to scale bridge power across SRG's regional pipeline. The partnership is projected to support approximately thousands of jobs in California by keeping growing advanced manufacturing and industrial operations within the state. About Critical Loop Critical Loop is an industrial power solutions company that brings customers online faster than traditional grid expansion. Their energy platform combines advanced autonomous control, battery energy storage, and flexible power generation to solve time-to-power problems for industrial facilities, data centers, utilities, and critical infrastructure. By deploying nimble, modular, scalable microgrids that maximize existing grid capacity while adding just the right amount of on-site power, Critical Loop enables businesses to access reliable, cost-effective electricity in days, weeks, or months rather than years. The company is on a mission to create a world with abundant, affordable energy where power is available, reliable, and no longer a constraint on progress. For more information, visit criticalloop.com. About Sares-Regis Group Commercial SRG COMMERCIAL is a privately owned real estate investment, development and management company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. For more than 25 years, SRG COMMERCIAL has developed, acquired and managed industrial and commercial properties in Southern California, from master-planned industrial parks to warehouse and distribution centers and corporate headquarters campuses. For more information, visit https://www.srgcommercial.com. Read the Article on Business Wire: Read More Posted By OffshoreSource

The Energy Data
Sep 30th, 2026
Critical Loop unveils csip-certified power controller for California industry.

Critical Loop unveils csip-certified power controller for California industry. Critical Loop's Cygnus advances flexible grid interconnection for California industry. Critical Loop, an industrial power solutions company, has announced that Cygnus, its software-defined power controller, has achieved official CSIP 2030.5 certification and successfully completed interoperability testing with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The milestone places Critical Loop among PG&E's Flex Connect Approved Solution Providers and strengthens the company's ability to support flexible interconnection for commercial and industrial customers across California. Cygnus has also secured a UL 3141 listing. According to Critical Loop, the combination makes Cygnus the first power controller on the market to hold both the CSIP 2030.5 certification and UL 3141 listing. Together, the certifications provide customers with a single power-control solution designed for compatibility across different utility environments, including PG&E and Southern California utilities. The two qualifications serve different purposes, but their combination is significant for Critical Loop's strategy. The CSIP 2030.5 certification supports secure communication and interoperability with utility systems, while the UL 3141 listing addresses the safety requirements associated with power-control equipment. Critical Loop said that although PG&E interoperability does not require customers to hold both credentials, having both expands the potential deployment environments for Cygnus as California's electricity system evolves. The announcement comes as California faces rapidly increasing electricity demand from transportation electrification, energy storage, commercial facilities and other large-load applications. Traditional grid expansion can require lengthy planning, permitting and construction timelines. Flexible interconnection offers another approach by allowing customers to connect using available grid capacity while managing electricity consumption when the distribution system becomes constrained. Critical Loop is applying this approach to commercial and industrial applications through Cygnus. The controller can dynamically manage power consumption and coordinate behind-the-meter resources according to grid conditions and utility requirements. This enables facilities to operate within defined limits while making greater use of available grid capacity. "Businesses shouldn't have to choose where they operate based on power availability," said Bala Ramamurthy, co-founder and CEO of Critical Loop. "Cygnus was built to help customers and utilities maximize existing grid capacity without waiting years for grid upgrades. Securing CSIP 2030.5 certification and successful interoperability testing with PG&E alongside our UL 3141 listing demonstrates that flexible interconnection is ready for larger commercial and industrial facilities." Cygnus is now part of the growing technology ecosystem supporting PG&E's Flex Connect program. The initiative enables customers with controllable electrical loads to connect to the grid without necessarily waiting for conventional distribution upgrades. Through automated energy management and secure communications, participating facilities can access available capacity while adjusting their electricity consumption during periods when the distribution system is constrained. The model can be particularly relevant to facilities whose electricity requirements vary throughout the day. Instead of requiring the grid to accommodate a facility's maximum potential demand at all times, flexible interconnection can establish operating limits and use controllable resources to remain within those boundaries. Critical Loop's interoperability testing with PG&E demonstrated the use of behind-the-meter battery storage and intelligent controls to manage commercial and industrial loads under real-world operating conditions. During unconstrained periods, a facility can draw available power from the grid. When demand restrictions become active, on-site battery storage and other controls can help keep electricity consumption within hourly limits established by the utility. For industrial operators, this approach can provide an alternative to relying exclusively on conventional backup generation or waiting for major utility infrastructure projects to be completed. By combining grid access with energy storage and automated controls, facilities can potentially make greater use of existing electrical capacity while maintaining compliance with utility requirements. PG&E's Flex Connect program is already supporting operational projects. The program currently includes five operational sites involving commercial electric vehicle fleets, public fast-charging infrastructure and battery energy storage systems. More than 85 additional projects are in the active pipeline, covering EV charging, battery storage and emerging commercial and industrial applications. The expansion of Flex Connect into additional large-load applications could create opportunities for technologies capable of coordinating facility demand with utility requirements. Critical Loop said interoperable solutions such as Cygnus can help customers access available grid capacity sooner while longer-term distribution infrastructure projects are being developed. "Flex Connect is helping customers connect to the grid faster by making better use of capacity that's already available today," said Alex Portilla, director, Clean Energy Technology Platforms at PG&E. "Our goal is to enable customers to bring their own solutions while giving us the visibility and reliability needed to operate the grid safely. Critical Loop's successful interoperability testing demonstrates how innovative technologies can help expand flexible interconnection beyond EV charging into a broader range of commercial and industrial applications, supporting California's growing demand for electricity without waiting for traditional infrastructure upgrades." Critical Loop's relationship with PG&E also extends to the utility's innovation initiatives. The company was a finalist in PG&E's 2025 Innovation Pitch Fest, an R&D program intended to identify and rapidly test emerging technologies addressing operational challenges across the utility system. Critical Loop was selected as one of the finalists from approximately 400 applicants. With its PG&E interoperability testing completed and its CSIP 2030.5 certification and UL 3141 listing in place, Critical Loop is now onboarding commercial and industrial customers across California. The company is positioning Cygnus as a technology for facilities seeking to manage electricity demand, integrate behind-the-meter storage and use available grid capacity without relying solely on lengthy traditional grid expansion. As California's electricity demand continues to evolve, flexible interconnection is emerging as one method for coordinating new loads with existing infrastructure. Critical Loop's latest certification and interoperability milestones give Cygnus a foundation for participating in that changing market, particularly among commercial and industrial customers whose power requirements could benefit from automated controls and flexible operating strategies.

Business Wire
Apr 15th, 2026
Critical Loop Raises $26M Series A to Accelerate Grid Interconnection

Critical Loop, an industrial power solutions company, today announced a $26 million Series A round led by Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover, with p...

StreetInsider
Apr 13th, 2026
Critical Loop raises $26M Series A to cut grid connection times from years to weeks

Critical Loop, an industrial power solutions company, has raised $26 million in a Series A round led by Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover, bringing total funding to $49 million. Better Ventures Climate Capital, Adapt Nation Capital and Cyrus Ventures also participated. The company addresses grid interconnection delays by combining battery storage, generation and its Cygnus software controller into deployable microgrids, reducing connection times from years to days or weeks. Its CLB-5100 is a scalable 1MW battery system that can connect to various power sources and be relocated to address grid capacity constraints. Critical Loop has secured projects including San Diego International Airport and multiple EV charging sites, and maintains a supply agreement with LG Energy Solution Vertech for US-made batteries. The company currently operates across California.

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