Offgrid Energy Labs Opens ZincGel Pilot Plant in UK

15 Jul 2026 CW Team

The announcement comes as India accelerates its energy transition after achieving 50 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources ahead of schedule and pursuing a long-term target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The Central Electricity Authority has estimated national energy storage needs at 411.4 GWh by 2031-32, including more than 236 GWh from battery energy storage systems, underscoring the need for scalable and safe storage platforms. The pilot plant is intended to demonstrate manufacturability and to inform larger deployment decisions.

The ZincGel battery technology (ZincGel) is built on zinc-bromine chemistry and was developed within India's deep-science ecosystem with manufacturability and scalability in mind. Unlike lithium-ion systems, the technology is non-flammable and is engineered to deliver 100 per cent depth of discharge daily across a six-to-16-hour discharge range and an expected 20-year operating life. The platform targets infrastructure-scale applications such as renewable integration, peak-load management, microgrids and industrial backup resilience while emphasising supply-chain resilience through secured bromine relationships.

The UK pilot also reflects strategic aims to diversify global battery supply chains beyond lithium and to anchor Indian intellectual property in international manufacturing. Support from industrial partners including Archean Chemical Industries, India's largest bromine exporter, and from Ankur Capital was cited as bolstering commercial prospects. The company plans a globally distributed manufacturing footprint to contribute to energy security, industrial resilience and the transition to low-carbon power systems.

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Offgrid Energy Labs (Offgrid) has opened its first ZincGel battery pilot manufacturing facility, a 10 MWh demonstration line in Hook, Hampshire in the United Kingdom, marking the commercial debut of India-developed zinc-bromine energy storage technology. The facility will serve as the company's first commercial pilot manufacturing line and represents a move from laboratory innovation to international-scale production. Company founders framed the launch as an important milestone for commercialisation of Indian deep-tech and for creating a foundation to serve global markets. The announcement comes as India accelerates its energy transition after achieving 50 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources ahead of schedule and pursuing a long-term target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The Central Electricity Authority has estimated national energy storage needs at 411.4 GWh by 2031-32, including more than 236 GWh from battery energy storage systems, underscoring the need for scalable and safe storage platforms. The pilot plant is intended to demonstrate manufacturability and to inform larger deployment decisions. The ZincGel battery technology (ZincGel) is built on zinc-bromine chemistry and was developed within India's deep-science ecosystem with manufacturability and scalability in mind. Unlike lithium-ion systems, the technology is non-flammable and is engineered to deliver 100 per cent depth of discharge daily across a six-to-16-hour discharge range and an expected 20-year operating life. The platform targets infrastructure-scale applications such as renewable integration, peak-load management, microgrids and industrial backup resilience while emphasising supply-chain resilience through secured bromine relationships. The UK pilot also reflects strategic aims to diversify global battery supply chains beyond lithium and to anchor Indian intellectual property in international manufacturing. Support from industrial partners including Archean Chemical Industries, India's largest bromine exporter, and from Ankur Capital was cited as bolstering commercial prospects. The company plans a globally distributed manufacturing footprint to contribute to energy security, industrial resilience and the transition to low-carbon power systems.

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