Meine Electric, a deeptech startup specializing in long-duration energy storage (LDES), has raised $750,000 (approximately ₹6.7 crore) in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Antler, Rebalance, and Venture Catalysts, with participation from gradCapital, AIC-AU Incubation Foundation (hosted by Anna University), and a group of angel investors including industry veteran Alexander Hogeveen Rutter.
The fresh capital will be used to transition from laboratory-scale prototypes to pilot-ready iron-air battery systems. The company is currently outfitting a 5,000 sq. ft. facility in Chennai to support multi-kilowatt grid-connected pilots and expand its core engineering team.
Breaking the Lithium Limit: 24-Hour Energy Storage
While lithium-ion batteries dominate the market, they are typically optimized for short bursts (2–4 hours). Meine Electric is tackling the “intermittency” problem of renewable energy by building batteries designed for 16–24 hours of storage. This allows solar and wind energy to be dispatched “round-the-clock,” effectively replacing diesel generators and fossil-fuel peaker plants.
The “Reversible Rusting” Process:
Unlike complex chemical batteries, iron-air systems use abundant, non-toxic materials: iron, air, and water.
Discharging: The battery “breathes” in oxygen, converting iron into rust to release electricity.
Charging: An electrical current reverses the process, turning rust back into iron and releasing oxygen.
“India will win the energy transition when clean power becomes dispatchable, not intermittent,” said Priyansh Mohan, Co-Founder and CEO of Meine Electric. “Our focus for the last three years has been to make iron-air chemistry stable and repeatable. Now, we are proving it for the grid.”
Key Technology Benchmarks
Meine Electric is positioning itself as the first in the APAC region to develop this technology, joining a select few global players like the US-based Form Energy.
| Feature | Meine Electric Iron-Air Battery |
| Storage Duration | 16–24 Hours |
| Full Charge Time | ~8 Hours (optimized for solar cycles) |
| Target Cost (LCOS) | < $0.05/kWh (~₹4/kWh) |
| IP Portfolio | 4 Patents Granted; 7 International Filings |
| Commercial Launch | Containerized systems targeted by 2027 |
Leadership and Awards
Founded in 2023 by Priyansh Mohan (a metal-air technologist) and Stuti Kakkar (a former BCG consultant), the startup has already gained significant institutional recognition. It was recently honored with the National Startup Award 2026 and the Nasscom Emerge 50 Award, highlighting its role in India’s 500 GW renewable energy mission.
By: Vanshika Tayal
