Que: What inspired the foundation of Offgrid Energy Labs at IIT Kanpur, and what core problem in the energy storage ecosystem were you aiming to solve with ZincGel technology?

Ans: Years ago, while at IIT Kanpur, both of us began tinkering with the idea of safer, more accessible battery materials. What started as late-night experiments and academic curiosity soon became a disciplined, science-first endeavour. We kept coming back to one stubborn question: how do we build energy storage that is not only effective, but genuinely sustainable, safe and scalable — especially for stationary applications that demand long life and resilience?

That question shaped years of research, iteration and rethinking the fundamentals of battery chemistry, and ultimately laid the foundation for Offgrid Energy Labs. Admittedly cliché, but our work did begin in a dorm room; today, it has evolved into an IP-led platform designed for global deployment. From the outset, we were clear that solving energy storage at scale would require more than good chemistry — it needed raw materials that are widely available, manufacturing know-how that can be localised, and a technology that can deliver long-term resilience for grids and infrastructure.

With ZincGel®, we translated those early experiments into a practical chemistry and cell design that simultaneously addresses safety, supply-chain independence and cost. Seeing those early lab prototypes evolve into a solution engineered for real-world, stationary energy systems has been incredibly rewarding, and it continues to guide how we build and scale the company.

Que: Could you briefly explain what makes ZincGel technology unique compared to conventional battery chemistries?

Ans: ZincGel stands apart because of its materials, chemistry and design working together to solve ZincGel is unique because its materials, chemistry and design have been engineered together to solve the specific demands of long-duration, stationary energy storage. Offgrid’s ZincGel® is based on zinc–bromide redox chemistry, which naturally supports deep discharge and long cycle life — two characteristics that are critical for stationary applications but where lithium-ion batteries perform sub-optimally over time. A key advantage is that repeated deep discharge does not degrade ZincGel’s battery life, which is a major limitation for lithium-ion systems under daily cycling.

The cell uses three widely available commodities — carbon, zinc and bromine — making it far less exposed to geopolitical supply constraints. A proprietary non-aqueous electrolyte and novel complexing agents improve stability, safety and efficiency, allowing ZincGel to achieve round-trip efficiencies close to lithium, despite most zinc chemistries historically being limited to 70–75 percent. What truly differentiates ZincGel®, however, is the commercial viability unlocked through innovations in electrode design, electrolyte formulation, system architecture and simplified manufacturing. These advances are protected by more than 60 global intellectual property assets, reinforcing both our competitive edge and the depth of our R&D. The result is a chemistry that is safer, easier to recycle, cost-effective and genuinely scalable for real-world deployment.

Que: What is your strategy for taking ZincGel technology from the lab to commercial-scale deployment? Which sectors or applications do you see adopting ZincGel technology first, and why?

Ans: Our commercialisation strategy follows a deliberate, staged approach that takes ZincGel from the lab bench to large-scale deployment with discipline and speed. We begin with a demonstration manufacturing facility that produces the first commercial cells and establishes the blueprint for gigawatt-scale plants. These batteries then undergo global certification, followed by targeted pilots in real-world environments.

A critical part of this journey is partnerships. From the early stages, we have actively engaged with raw material suppliers, battery manufacturers, system integrators and customers to ensure ZincGel is designed for manufacturability, integration and real operating conditions. Reliability in energy storage is a full-stack challenge, and we believe early ecosystem collaboration is essential to scale successfully.

ZincGel will first be adopted in long-duration and stationary applications such as microgrids, renewable-energy storage, industrial backup and data-centre power. These sectors require daily deep-cycle performance, multi-hour discharge, high safety standards and supply-chain resilience — precisely where ZincGel delivers the strongest advantage over lithium-based systems.

Que: What gaps in the current storage ecosystem does ZincGel help address? Is it safety, cost, sustainability, or supply chain constraints?

Ans: ZincGel addresses all four gaps simultaneously. Its non-flammable chemistry and stable electrolyte significantly reduce fire risk, which has become a major concern for stationary storage installations. The use of non-toxic, widely available materials makes ZincGel easier and cheaper to recycle, improving sustainability across the battery lifecycle.

From a cost perspective, design innovations and simplified manufacturing reduce the bill of materials, overcoming barriers that have historically limited zinc-based chemistries. Most importantly, ZincGel enables immediate and massive scalability using local resources and existing infrastructure. Because the core inputs — zinc, carbon and bromine — are abundant and globally available, the technology avoids the supply-chain concentration seen in lithium, allowing countries like India to build storage capacity domestically, at scale, without external dependency.

Que: What are the key milestones Offgrid Energy Labs is targeting in the next 12– 18 months?

Ans: Our focus is on moving decisively from R&D to commercial readiness. The immediate priority is commissioning and operating our demonstration manufacturing facility, which will produce the first commercial ZincGel cells. These units will undergo global certification and extensive validation, followed by pilot deployments with systems partners across microgrids, industrial backup, renewable-integration projects and data centres. As these pilots progress, we are finalising the blueprint for our gigawatt-scale manufacturing plant in India, informed by learnings from the UK facility. In parallel, we continue scaling partnerships across materials, pack integration and system-level engineering to ensure smooth commercial roll-out. Alongside this, we are advancing our IP pipeline to enhance cost, energy density and manufacturability. Together, these steps position us to transition from pilot-stage shipments to early commercial deployments within the coming year.