Que: Tell Energetica India readers in brief about Offgrid Energy Labs and its vision?

Ans: Offgrid Energy Labs is an IIT-Kanpur incubated startup. I founded it in early 2018 along with Brindan Tulachan, Rishi Srivastava and Ankur Agarwal.

Our company’s core technology offers indigenous, sustainable energy storage, aiming to revolutionize the global energy storage segment. Through disruptive chemistry, democratized materials, and unique electrode design, the company envisions low-cost battery storage for stationary and mobile applications. Being a deep-science venture, we plan to eliminate safety constraints and heavy import prices levied by lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion cells.

To generate revenue, our plan is to license the manufacturing of our batteries to manufacturers across the world.

Que: What is ZincGel Technology? How it is different from other technologies prevailing in the market?

Ans: ZincGel technology is Offgrid Energy Labs’ first proprietary. We have successfully modified 150 years old Zinc and Manganese-Dioxide chemistry, to fill the current battery energy storage gaps.

ZincGel battery technology is a cumulation of multiple Intellectual Properties in three distinctive categories - chemistry, materials, and design. As against prevalent zinc battery technology which fails to utilize the maximum zinc output, Our ZincGel technology is tweaked in a way that helps reach full maximization of zinc in its battery efficiently and at the same time is rechargeable. For raw materials used, ZincGel technology is devoid of the rare earth element, in addition to being non-toxic in nature.

Further, this ground-breaking ZincGel technology has a modular design. Benefiting ZincGel’s modular design, customized battery packs can be created for varied energy storage applications basis unique requirements. As a result, it will help preserve advantages of increased efficiency and reduced cost in battery storage. These 3 typical points position ZincGel technology apart, offering sustainability alongside commercial viability.

Que: At a time when already many battery technologies are available in the market, what will be your strategy to capture the market for ZincGel technology? What market scope do you see?

Ans: Battery storage is the cornerstone to the energy transition, which the world is looking forward to. We at Offgrid Energy Labs are extremely technology-driven and quality-focused, with the aim of covering a global market for energy storage.

Considering how the energy storage market for batteries is estimated to turn into a potential US 100-billion-dollar sector, India’s pledge to Net-Zero is paving way for new-undiscovered opportunities.

Undoubtedly, Li-ion battery technology stands as an undefeated king, but its limitations¬– like that of safety concerns and supply-chain constraints must not be overlooked. Overcoming the current batteries’ barriers is the need of the hour.

Sustainable energy storage technology with deep commercial penetration is an untapped market, both in India and globally. Our unique ZincGel battery technology aims to outperform conventional battery technology in terms of power density, battery life, energy efficiency and cost.

Que: Who are your target customers and industries?

Ans: Our company’s services rely primarily on offering battery storage solutions to the stationary sector- like that of round-the-clock renewable, microgrids, grid applications. Our focus is also streamlined towards providing solutions to low-powered mobility applications and solar/battery powered electric vehicle (EV) charging. Our targeted customers span globally, tapping the stationary energy storage market in Europe and the US, whereas providing longer-range performance durability for small EVs in India and South Asia market.

The company plans to disembark productive pilots in business use cases– with the potential scope of reducing downtown renewable energy generators and battery backups for telecom towers and data centers.

Que: Shed some light on your educational background, achievements, and experiences across sectors, along with other founders if any. How the idea of forming Offgrid Energy comes into existence?

Ans: I pursued my PhD in bioengineering from IIT-Kanpur and I firmly believe that – diversity is the compelling factor behind any innovation. Four years back, I envisioned an electrical vehicle using innovations in lithium-ion battery packs along with Brindan, whom I met back during our PhD years in IIT Kanpur. This was the meeting point of an idea, yet to be born, through modifications in its original conception.

Offgrid Energy Labs has three other founders as well namely - Brindan Tulachan, Rishi Srivastava and Ankur Agarwal.

Hailing from different sectors, all our founders shared the zeal for clean and efficient energy storage battery technologies. This shared passion is what binds us together.

Que: As an entrant what kind of challenges you have faced?

Ans: Until a few quarters back, it was difficult to explain that there will be a plateau in lithium-ion prices even if the demand keeps rising. Everyone was optimistic and waiting for the price of high-quality lithium-ion batteries to fall below $100/KkWh. However, today, the industry has realized that such a low price is a moving target, and it is not the only parameter that determines commercial success. Other properties such as efficiency, thermal stability, safety, recyclability also contribute a lot.

Que: What are your views on the Government’s support for the startup ecosystem in the country?

Ans: I must appreciate that there has been phenomenal support given by the Government of India for start-ups through academic incubators and direct grants. During our early days, we have received several grants that kept us innovating and solving hard problems. I believe, such grants helped us in developing a minimal viable product that became critical in establishing industry for partnerships globally.

Que: Kindly share details about Offgrid Energy Labs’ investment and funding? What are further plans?

Ans: We are backed by leading global investors, namely– Shell Ventures, Ankur Capital, APVC Singapore who firmly trust in our proprietary ZincGel. Offgrid Energy Labs further exults in the support received from the Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur, Department of Science & Technology, Social Alpha, Shell E4 and AVL Austria to test, validate & pilot our ZincGel technology. Securing successful pilot runs, we aim to commercially launch ZincGel products in the next 18 months.

This collective support has motivated us to create a roadmap of 5-8 years, with a pipeline of other technologies that will greatly pivot different aspects of the energy storage industry.

Que: What are your future targets?

Ans: Through continuous research, our future target lies in working upon a partnership model that leverages the overall ecosystem instead of becoming end-to-end battery manufacturers. In alignment with the contemporary demand for energy transition, there are a variety of new applications in both, stationary and mobility energy storage segments. This high need for imminent battery storage technologies has made us realize, the role of structured partnership is quintessential to yet-to-be ventured products development.