Powered by purpose

Returning Home & Finding the Right Ecosystem

Q. You completed your PhD at the University of Maryland, worked at Ballard Power Systems, and had opportunities abroad. What made you return to India, and why IIT Gandhinagar?

A. Coming back to India was always part of the plan. I grew up here, and even when I left for higher studies, I knew I wanted to return eventually. It was a personal decision more than anything else.

As for IIT Gandhinagar, I was introduced to the institute's vision while I was a PhD student. The Director at the time, visited the University of Maryland and spoke about the initiatives being built at IIT Gandhinagar. That resonated with me.

I had completed my BTech at Indian Institute of Technology Madras and specifically wanted to work at one of the newer IITs. Among them, IIT Gandhinagar stood out because it actively encouraged young faculty members to pursue ambitious ideas and build new initiatives. That supportive environment played a major role in my decision.

From Research Projects to Real-World Products

Q. How did the idea for Cellegant Energy Systems originate?

A. My exposure to product development began during my time at Ballard Power Systems. While there, I wasn't just conducting academic research; I was involved in building complete products and developing multiple generations of prototypes. That experience showed me the satisfaction of seeing technology evolve from an idea into something tangible.

When I joined IIT Gandhinagar, I wanted to continue working in that direction. Our lab undertook several projects funded by government agencies and industry partners, and through those projects we realised that India had a significant gap in hydrogen fuel-cell system development. There were very few organisations with the expertise needed to design, engineer and integrate fuel-cell systems for specific applications.

Initially, we tried addressing this gap through research and consulting projects. However, that approach still relied on external organisations to eventually commercialise the technology. We felt there was a need for a more direct pathway that could take ideas from the laboratory into the market.

That became the motivation for starting Cellegant.

I wouldn't describe it as a shift away from academic research. Research remains central to what we do. The startup is really an extension of that work. Publishing papers and filing patents are important, but if we want technology to make a real difference, it has to be translated into products that people can actually use.

Why Hydrogen Fuel Cells, and Why Now?

Q. What gap did you see in the hydrogen ecosystem?

A. There were two major factors.

The first was a knowledge gap. Developing hydrogen fuel-cell systems requires expertise spanning mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering and systems integration. That expertise is still relatively limited in India.

The second factor was that many of the applications where fuel cells offer clear advantages have only recently emerged. Take drones, for example. Battery-powered drones were sufficient for many applications until users started demanding significantly longer flight durations. At the same time, there has been a growing push toward cleaner and more sustainable technologies.

The convergence of those two requirements, sustainability and long endurance, created an opportunity for hydrogen fuel cells.

Demystifying Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Q. Many people hear conflicting things about hydrogen. How do hydrogen fuel cells actually work?

A. A fuel cell is essentially an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen into electricity. In many ways, it works similarly to a battery, but there is one key difference.

A battery stores energy internally. A fuel cell does not store energy; it only converts energy. Hydrogen is stored separately and supplied to the fuel cell as needed.

Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine electrochemically to produce electricity and water. Interestingly, this process is simply the reverse of electrolysis. In electrolysis, electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine to generate electricity.

Hydrogen itself is not an energy source. It is an energy carrier, much like electricity. It can be produced using different methods, including renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. As renewable energy adoption increases, hydrogen becomes an important way to store and transport that energy for use when sunlight or wind are unavailable.

That's why hydrogen is expected to play a major role in long-duration energy storage, heavy transportation, shipping, and applications that require long endurance.

Busting the Biggest Myth About Hydrogen

Q. What is the biggest misconception people have about hydrogen?

A. The most common misconception is that hydrogen is inherently too dangerous to use.

Hydrogen is certainly flammable, but so are petrol, diesel, LPG and many other fuels we use every day. Safety is not determined by whether something is flammable; it depends on how systems are designed and engineered.

For example, LPG cylinders are routinely used in homes because safety measures are built into the system. Hydrogen is no different.

In fact, hydrogen also has some properties that can improve safety. If hydrogen leaks, it rises and disperses rapidly into the atmosphere. LPG, on the other hand, tends to accumulate near the ground, increasing the risk of ignition.

Like any energy system, hydrogen has its own advantages and challenges. The key is to engineer safety into the technology.

More importantly, hydrogen can help India increase renewable energy adoption, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and improve energy self-reliance. Those are compelling reasons for the country to invest in hydrogen technologies.

Why Drones Became the Focus

Q. Cellegant initially explored hydrogen fuel cell systems for stationary applications, as an alternative to diesel generators. What led you to focus on UAVs?

A. Our original target was stationary power systems, particularly providing sustainable alternatives to diesel generator sets with fuel-cell-based alternatives.

At the time, it seemed like a promising market. However, grid reliability improved significantly, reducing the number of hours diesel generators were actually used. As a result, the economics became less attractive.

At the same time, demand for longer-endurance drones began growing rapidly. That shifted our attention toward UAVs, and since 2023, we have been heavily focused on that sector.

Traditional drones are either battery-powered or powered by internal combustion engines. Batteries are suitable for smaller drones but have endurance limitations. Engine-powered drones can fly longer, but they produce noise, thermal signatures and require regular maintenance.

Hydrogen fuel-cell drones offer several advantages. They can achieve significantly longer flight durations than battery-powered systems, and over their operational lifetime, they can also be more economical because they require less maintenance and fewer battery replacements.

Engineering Around Hydrogen Storage Challenges

Q. What technical hurdles have you faced while building these systems?

A. One of the biggest challenges has been sourcing specialised components. Sometimes it's something as small as a valve or fitting; sometimes it's larger equipment such as pumps and compressors. Finding the right components and obtaining them in small quantities is often difficult.

Another major challenge has been power electronics. Fuel-cell systems typically operate as hybrid systems, combining a fuel cell with a small battery. Managing the flow of power between those components requires sophisticated electronics, and we found that suitable solutions were not readily available in India.

As a result, we had to develop many of these systems ourselves.

This is where IIT Gandhinagar's interdisciplinary environment became extremely valuable. We have been able to collaborate with colleagues and researchers from electrical engineering, chemical engineering and other disciplines. Building a product requires expertise from multiple fields, and that ecosystem has been instrumental in our progress.

Beyond Cylinders: Rethinking Hydrogen Storage

Q. You are also developing alternative hydrogen-storage technologies. Could you tell us more about them?

A. One of the limitations of compressed hydrogen storage is weight. In a typical high-pressure cylinder, only a small fraction of the total weight is actually hydrogen, while the majority of the weight is the (empty) tank itself.

To improve endurance, we need better storage methods.

One approach we are working on is methanol reforming. Methanol contains hydrogen and can be converted into pure hydrogen when needed. Unlike compressed hydrogen, methanol is a liquid that can be stored and transported at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, making logistics much easier. We see strong potential for this technology in stationary power applications and long-distance mobility solutions.

We are also developing a solid chemical powder that releases hydrogen when mixed with water. This approach offers much higher hydrogen-storage efficiency and could significantly extend drone endurance.

With conventional compressed hydrogen storage, we can typically achieve around two-and-a-half times the endurance of batteries. With the powder-based system, we believe endurance could reach five to six times that of battery-powered drones.

Partnerships, Funding & Building Credibility

Q. How important were programmes like NIDHI PRAYAS and support from the Government of Gujarat?

A. NIDHI PRAYAS arrived at a crucial stage. It helped sustain the company while we were still searching for our first paying customers. That support allowed us to continue development, retain people, and bridge the gap until commercial revenues started coming in.

We also received support from the Government of Gujarat for our work on methanol reforming technologies, which has helped us advance alternative hydrogen-storage solutions.

Beyond that, our collaborations with DRDO have been extremely important. We are currently involved in multiple projects, including fuel-cell power systems for quadruped robots, as well as other strategic applications.

Lessons from Bharat Innovates

Q. Cellegant was among the startups that participated in Bharat Innovates. What did that experience mean for you?

A. It was a valuable experience. We progressed to the final stages of the programme, and at each stage the questions became more detailed and demanding.

We were challenged from multiple perspectives, including technology, finance and business strategy. Those discussions helped us refine our product roadmap and sharpen our focus on the markets we wanted to serve.

It was also an opportunity to interact with around 160 startups working across sectors such as healthcare, energy, infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

One important takeaway was that every startup faces challenges. Sometimes, when you're deeply involved in your own journey, it can feel like you're the only one struggling. Seeing others navigate similar hurdles was reassuring and motivating.

Balancing Research and Entrepreneurship

Q. What has been the most difficult part of balancing academic research and running a startup?

A. The biggest challenge is time.

Academic research requires publishing, mentoring students and advancing scientific knowledge. A startup requires fundraising, customer engagement, product development and team management.

Ultimately, success depends on people. I have been fortunate to work with team members who have stayed with the lab and startup for many years. Their commitment and patience have been invaluable.

Finding talented people is difficult. Finding people who combine talent with patience is even harder. Those individuals make it possible to balance both worlds.

Defining Success for Cellegant

Q. What would success look like over the next few years?

A. If we can see our products being used regularly by the Indian Armed Forces and commercial customers, that would be a significant milestone.

From a technology perspective, I want Cellegant to become India's go-to fuel-cell engineering company, the place organisations turn to when they need fuel-cell systems designed, optimised or customised.

And perhaps most importantly, I want it to become an exciting place for young engineers. We need more graduates from mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering backgrounds to see a future in building technology, not just consuming it.

One of my motivations for starting Cellegant was to show young people that engineering can be exciting, impactful and entrepreneurial. If, a few years from now, Cellegant is known not just for its fuel-cell technologies but also for inspiring young engineers to build, innovate and solve real-world problems, then I would consider that our greatest achievement. Building products is important, but building a generation of engineers who believe they can shape India's energy future would be even more meaningful.

Cellegant Energy Systems Pvt Ltd is incubated at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and develops hydrogen fuel-cell technologies for UAVs, robotic systems, stationary power applications and advanced energy-storage solutions.

Story authored by Devki Prabhu and Ganesh