Offgrid Energy Labs Raises $15Mn Series A to Commercialise ZincGel Storage Tech

Offgrid Energy Labs, a deep science-led battery innovation company, has raised USD 15 million in Series A funding led by Archean Chemicals Industries Ltd., a bromide manufacturer. Offgrid Energy Labs said that it raised this funding with participation from existing investor Ankur Capital. Sharing these details of the funding in a press release, it said, the deep tech alternative battery-tech startup previously raised a seed round led by Shell Ventures.

The company explained, "These funds will be used to set up a 10 MWh demo manufacturing facility in the UK, further its R&D pipeline for next-generation stationary energy storage solutions, and commercialise its patented ZincGel® batteries through certification, testing, and finalising the blueprint for a giga-factory."

It added, "India’s ambitious clean energy transition demands a parallel development in energy storage infrastructure. The transition is accelerating rapidly, with the government targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030."

India's ESS Sector Expected To Attract ₹4.79 Lakh Crore Investments By 2032

Citing the India Energy Storage Alliance (IEESA) report, Offgrid Energy Labs said, "The country’s energy storage sector is expected to attract ₹4.79 lakh crore in investments by 2032, with a projected requirement of over 411 GWh of storage capacity — 236 GWh of which will come from battery energy storage systems (BESS). The government has already rolled out viability gap funding (VGF) schemes worth ₹3,700 crore to support 13.2 GWh of BESS projects and plans an additional ₹5,400 crore to facilitate another 30 GWh." 

It further added, "This makes reliable storage critical to ensuring grid stability, enabling renewable integration, and cementing India’s leadership in the global energy storage market. Against this backdrop, Offgrid’s latest funding marks a timely step forward — positioning ZincGel® as a viable, scalable, and sustainable storage solution to meet both India’s and the world’s urgent energy transition goals."

Technology Used

Explaining the technology offered by Offgrid’s ZincGel® technology, the company said, "It's built on three innovation vectors — alternative chemistry, materials and design, and manufacturing. Using commonly available, non-toxic materials and leveraging proven zinc-bromide chemistry, Offgrid has developed over 25 IP families and 50+ IP assets, with its proprietary electrolyte forming the heart of the technology. ZincGel® enables customised battery configurations for diverse stationary applications, delivering safe, scalable, and sustainable energy storage at competitive costs."

Leadership View

Co-founded by Tejas Kusurkar, Rishi Srivastava, Brindan Tulachan, and Ankur Agarwal in 2018 at SIIC-IIT Kanpur, Offgrid Energy Labs focuses on delivering commercially viable and sustainable stationary energy storage solutions for three key applications: peak shifting, net-zero industrial electricity, and decentralised off-the-grid energy solutions. Together, these segments represent a rapidly expanding market with demand projected at 411 GWh by 2032.

Speaking on the funding, Rishi Srivastava, Co-Founder, Offgrid Energy Labs, said: "Stationary storage is no longer a distant requirement as India alone will need over 236 GWh of battery energy storage systems by 2032. With ZincGel®, we are building for this scale from day one. Our 25+ IP families and proprietary electrolyte technology give us a unique edge to deliver safe, non-toxic, and scalable solutions at globally competitive costs. This Series A round is a critical milestone — enabling us to move from lab innovation to large-scale commercialisation through our UK demo facility, and soon, a GW-scale plant in India. By doing so, we aim to accelerate the country’s renewable-first grid while reducing import reliance and creating a home-grown storage ecosystem that can serve both India and global markets.”

“What began as late-night lab conversations about a safer, more accessible alternative to lithium-ion has grown into a global mission. ZincGel® was born from that spark — an energy storage solution to power entire grids sustainably! More than capital; this fundraise validates that deep science from India can scale globally. Our UK demo facility marks the next step — showcasing ZincGel®’s performance, building a local supply chain, and proving scalability through low-capex manufacturing. For me, this milestone is both personal and exciting — a reminder of why we started: transforming energy storage for a renewable-first world.” - Tejas Kusurkar, Co-Founder, OffGrid Energy Labs

Ranjit Pendurthi, Promoter and Managing Director, Archean Chemical Industries Limited (ACIL), stated: "Our substantial commitment reflects the confidence we have in Offgrid’s deep-tech approach.Our experience in large-scale chemical manufacturing complements Offgrid’s breakthrough science, making this partnership a strong foundation for giga-factory scale production. As one of the world’s leading bromine manufacturers with decades of experience in scaling large-scale industrial operations, we see this as a synergistic partnership. Our expertise in chemical manufacturing and global supply chain execution will be critical in taking Offgrid’s ZincGel® from pilot to giga-factory readiness, ensuring operational excellence as the technology scales.”