Beyond Lithium: How Offgrid Energy’s ZincGel Batteries Are Taking Indian Innovation Global
The global energy storage race is often framed as a competition dominated by lithium-ion technology. But a quiet revolution has been brewing in an IIT Kanpur incubation lab, and it is now making its presence felt on the international stage. Offgrid Energy Labs, a Gurugram-based deeptech startup, has just commissioned its first overseas manufacturing facility in Hook, Hampshire, United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone for Indian clean-energy innovation .
This 10 MWh pilot production line is the company’s first commercial manufacturing base outside India and represents the transition of its proprietary ZincGel battery technology from laboratory development to international-scale production .
The ZincGel Advantage: A Safer, Smarter Battery
The core of Offgrid’s global ambition lies in its ZincGel technology, a zinc-bromine battery system engineered specifically for stationary energy storage applications . The company has spent years developing this alternative to lithium-ion, and the results are compelling. Unlike conventional lithium systems, ZincGel batteries are non-flammable and eliminate the risk of thermal runaway, a critical safety concern for large-scale energy storage . They are designed to deliver 100% depth of discharge daily across a six-to-sixteen-hour range and boast an operational lifespan of up to 20 years, significantly outlasting typical lithium-ion batteries .
This longevity and safety profile is achieved by using abundant and widely available materials like zinc and bromine, which reduces reliance on the volatile supply chains that plague the lithium market . The batteries achieve around 90% round-trip efficiency, placing them in the same performance range as lithium-ion while avoiding many of its safety and sustainability challenges . As Tejas Kusurkar, Co-founder of Offgrid, explained, the energy transition requires a portfolio of battery chemistries for different applications, and long-duration stationary storage demands technologies that prioritize safety, deep discharge capability, and supply-chain resilience .
A Global Launchpad in the UK
The choice of the United Kingdom for this first overseas facility is strategic and symbolic. The launch coincides with the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which took effect on July 15, 2026, a framework expected to support greater collaboration between the two countries, including the movement of skilled professionals . The UK facility is the first dedicated ZincGel battery manufacturing plant in the country, and it will serve as a demonstration line for customers, partners, and investors as the company prepares for commercial-scale production .
Rishi Srivastava, Co-founder of Offgrid, noted that the launch represents an important milestone not only for the company but for the global commercialization of Indian deep-tech innovation . The facility will allow the company to optimize its manufacturing processes before establishing larger commercial production units, with a gigafactory in India planned as the next phase . This expansion is backed by strong investor confidence, including a $15 million Series A funding round led by Archean Chemical Industries, India’s largest bromine exporter, which ensures a secure supply chain for the key chemical component .
Meeting India’s Energy Storage Demand
Offgrid’s global expansion is rooted in a massive domestic opportunity. India has already achieved 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources ahead of schedule and is targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 . The Central Electricity Authority projects India’s energy storage requirement will reach 411.4 GWh by 2031-32, including more than 236 GWh from battery energy storage systems .
Offgrid’s ZincGel technology, developed in India with India’s energy needs in mind, is positioned to play a meaningful role in both the domestic and global energy transitions. The startup is also supported by more than 60 patents filed across the UK, EU, India, and the United States, solidifying its position as a serious global player in next-generation energy solutions . By taking Indian innovation to the world, Offgrid Energy Labs is demonstrating how India-origin technology can contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing energy challenges.
