India’s Offgrid Raises $15M to Develop Lithium-Free Battery Storage Solutions

Lithium has become the primary choice for battery-operated systems, but its limitations—like unreliable supply chains and short lifespans—are increasingly evident. Offgrid Energy Labs, an innovative startup based in India, is focused on decreasing lithium dependency, especially in battery storage solutions.

Established seven years ago and developed at IIT Kanpur, the startup has engineered a proprietary zinc-bromine battery system as a substitute for lithium-ion technology. Named ZincGel, it claims to deliver 80–90% of the energy efficiency of conventional lithium batteries, but at a considerably reduced levelized storage cost.

As global energy consumption continues to grow, countries are intensifying efforts to improve renewable energy storage. India is at the forefront of this movement, aiming to boost its non-fossil energy capacity from 50 gigawatts to 500 gigawatts by 2030. Additionally, New Delhi has set a goal of 236 gigawatt-hours of battery storage capacity by 2031-32, alongside a ₹54 billion (around $612 million) funding initiative announced in June to build 30 gigawatt-hour battery storage plants domestically. However, similar to many markets worldwide, India faces a significant hurdle: China’s stronghold on the lithium supply chain.

Offgrid Energy Labs plans to tackle supply challenges with its ZincGel technology by utilizing widely accessible materials and offering a more economical alternative to lithium-based systems.

The startup has raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its operations. It is set to establish a 10-megawatt-hour demonstration facility in the UK, expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026, with plans to launch ZincGel commercially shortly after and subsequently develop a gigafactory in India.

“Our goal is not only to address a market need from an application standpoint but also to ensure financial viability, as previous technologies and batteries have been too costly for mass adoption,” remarked Tejas Kusurkar, co-founder and CEO of Offgrid Energy Labs, in a recent interview.

Kusurkar, who holds a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur, co-founded Offgrid Energy Labs in 2018 at the institute’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Center with Brindan Tulachan (also a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur), Rishi Srivastava, and Ankur Agarwal. The team recognized that while lithium batteries are ideal for mobility, the stationary storage market is underserved — requiring batteries that are safer, more durable, and based on an easily sourced supply chain, Kusurkar told TechCrunch.

In its first six years, the startup concentrated on refining its battery technology and has attained over 25 IP families and more than 50 IP assets across several markets, including the U.S., U.K., India, China, Australia, and Japan. The battery utilizes zinc-bromine chemistry with a proprietary water-based electrolyte, which results in a minimized fire risk.

ZincGel also supports prolonged discharge durations (6–12 hours) multiple times throughout its lifespan, and it has a lifespan that can double that of standard lithium-ion batteries, according to Kusurkar. Additionally, the battery includes a carbon-based cathode for quick charging and discharging.

The idea of utilizing zinc in batteries is not new; other companies, such as EOS Energy Enterprises, listed on Nasdaq, have previously provided zinc-bromine batteries. However, Kusurkar emphasized that Offgrid Energy Labs employs its patented technology to lower costs. The ZincGel batteries also reduce the need for graphite, further decreasing production expenses.

“Ultimately, customers want either the same level of performance at a better price or improved performance at the same price,” stated Srivastava in an interview with TechCrunch.

Offgrid Energy Labs’ technology is designed for adaptability based on specific application requirements. This allows the zinc batteries to operate independently of environmental factors, providing energy storage even at temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, according to Srivastava.

The startup is targeting industries striving for net-zero energy objectives that wish to enhance renewable energy use through integrated battery systems. Its batteries are also being assessed for functions such as peak shifting and decentralized, off-grid power solutions. Early stakeholders include Shell, which invested in Offgrid during its seed round via its corporate venture arm, as well as Tata Power. The startup is also in discussions with international companies, including Enel Group from Europe, to create batteries customized for their needs.

Thus far, Offgrid Energy Labs has manually crafted its battery technology in a tinkering lab located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. However, the startup plans to utilize its UK facility to display its technology to initial customers next year.

The UK facility will maintain a carbon footprint 50% lower than that of a traditional lithium battery gigafactory, according to Srivastava, who noted that the startup is utilizing simpler manufacturing procedures to minimize both capital and operational expenses.

When asked about the decision to establish the initial facility in the UK rather than India, Srivastava explained that Europe provides a strong ecosystem and serves as a hub for battery manufacturing. Co-founders Kusurkar and Tulachan are based in the UK to manage local operations. Nevertheless, India remains a vital market as the batteries move towards commercialization in 2026.

The Series A funding round was spearheaded by Archean Chemicals, a specialty chemicals firm based in Chennai, which now holds a 21% stake in the startup, along with investments from Ankur Capital.

Srivastava mentioned to TechCrunch that Archean’s involvement is strategically beneficial due to their extensive knowledge in bromine production and supply chain management.

The startup’s valuation is approximately $58 million post-money.