In every home and office, plugged-in devices quietly drain power even when turned off. This “vampire energy” is an invisible tax that costs billions every year. How deep tech is slaying this hidden drain? Saurabh Tiwari from Inno91 Green Technologies tells EFY’s Saba Aafreen.
Q. What led to the founding of Inno91 Green Technologies?
A. My journey began in engineering, where early exposure to intellectual property (IP) systems led me to file a patent and pursue innovation over a conventional career. After working with Dr Vijay Bhatkar and advising multiple multinational companies (MNCs) on IP, I identified a massive gap in sustainability. This was around 2016 to 2018, when sectors like e-commerce, fintech, and crypto were booming. While others focused on energy generation, I saw an overlooked opportunity in energy conservation, specifically ‘vampire energy.’ Research showed that standby power losses cost India nearly ₹690 billion annually. This insight drove us to spend three years on research and development (R&D) to build a scalable solution for this invisible problem.
Q. Could you walk us through the journey of the start-up from its early stages to now?
A. We began with three years of R&D, using mobile chargers to prove that standby power could be eliminated. Once validated, we optimised for cost and expanded into consumer and EV charger ecosystems, improving device safety and lifespan. As industrial demand grew, we extended our tech to heavy machinery such as computer numerical control (CNC) and electric overhead travelling (EOT) cranes, eventually securing deployments with clients such as the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Today, we hold three patents across India and Germany, have deployed over 200 devices, and have achieved International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certifications and Energy Service Company (ESCO) empanelment. We are now moving toward research publication and carbon credit-aligned growth.
Q. Can you talk about your product portfolio?
A. Our portfolio operates across three segments. First is our original equipment manufacturer (OEM) layer: an ‘Intel Inside’ approach in which our modules embed directly into devices to eliminate standby power at the source. These devices are consumer or industrial. Second, we provide retrofit solutions in partnership with organisations like Mahapreit to upgrade existing switchboards in government offices and enterprises. Finally, our direct-to-consumer segment offers plug-and-play devices, similar to universal adapters, that bring energy savings to home appliances and laptops.
Q. Are conventional chargers inherently designed in a way that leads to standby energy leakage?
A. Yes. Conventional chargers are designed so that internal circuitry and transformers stay active as long as they are plugged in, resulting in a continuous energy draw even when no device is connected.
Q. In devices like mobile chargers or laptop adapters, where exactly does standby power loss occur within the circuit?
A. At the circuit level, the internal transformer remains active while plugged into the mains. The coils continue to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), allowing a small but persistent current to flow through the circuit even when the charger is not in active use.
Q. How is the architecture of your modules designed?
A. It is an intelligent energy optimisation system. The architecture integrates real-time load sensing, adaptive power algorithms, and feedback control to analyse electrical conditions. It dynamically decides when to cut off or restore power based on the connected device’s behaviour.
Q. Could you describe the key electronic components involved in your modules?
A. While the specific components are proprietary trade secrets, the system broadly integrates sensing, control, and power regulation elements that work in tandem to monitor load conditions and manage energy flow.
Q. How exactly does your module eliminate or minimise standby energy losses?
A. While the specific components are proprietary trade secrets, the system broadly integrates sensing, control, and power regulation elements that work in tandem to monitor load conditions and manage energy flow.
Q. Could you walk us through a real-world deployment example?
A. During our work with IRCTC, we initially proposed coach-level solutions but were directed to 25-tonne cranes in car sheds that remain in standby for nearly 364 days a year. This highlighted the massive scale of hidden energy waste and associated safety risks. We successfully implemented our solution, achieving significant energy savings, reduced copper losses, and improved equipment lifespan.
Q. Beyond vampire energy, what specific problems do your modules solve, and how does it contribute to green energy?
A. We address the global issue of inefficient electricity consumption, where appliances drawing power while idle contribute seven to ten per cent of typical electricity bills. At scale, this translates into tens of billions of dollars in waste. While most solutions focus on optimising usage, our patented technology eliminates waste at the source by cutting unnecessary power draw. This reduces demand and carbon emissions, making conservation an immediate, scalable green energy strategy.
Q. What testing methods were used to quantify standby power reduction?
A. We evaluated the system through multiple iterations, analysing voltage spikes, surge behaviour, thermal performance, temperature variation, and overload conditions to ensure accurate measurement of power reduction and overall system stability.
Q. How does the system ensure safety and reliability while switching power states?
A. The system utilises proprietary sensing and control elements to ensure stable transitions between states. To guarantee reliability, we conducted extensive lab testing and secured ISO and Conformité Européenne (CE) certifications, validating that the product meets global standards for safety and energy efficiency.
Q. Were there any key engineering challenges during development?
A. A major challenge was optimising size and cost; we successfully reduced the form factor from several centimetres to just four millimetres. Additionally, scaling the tech from low-power electronics to 30-tonne industrial cranes required managing significantly higher loads while maintaining consistent efficiency and reliability.
Q. Is your technology scalable from consumer devices to industrial applications?
A. Yes. A core engineering feat was applying the same principle across vastly different scales, from 5-volt consumer devices to heavy-duty machinery such as 25-tonne cranes. Industrial deployment is a primary focus because the impact is substantial; saving energy in vertical machining centres (VMCs) and CNC systems offers a far higher return on investment (ROI) than typical consumer applications.
Q. Where else are you targeting industrial implementation beyond chargers?
A. We are targeting any environment where standby energy exists. This includes CNC and lathe machines, heavy cranes, and other three-phase production equipment. Simultaneously, we are targeting the enterprise sector; by replacing conventional office switches with our technology, corporates can reduce waste and significantly improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings.
Q. Could you tell us about your team structure and where you are headquartered?
A. We are headquartered in Amravati with operations in Pune. Our focused R&D team includes hardware and software engineers; the latter specifically developing our carbon credit platforms, alongside on-ground installers. This allows us to manage the entire lifecycle of our solutions from development to deployment.
Q. Could you tell us about the research and development activities within Inno91?
A. Our R&D focuses on strengthening our core invention and ensuring it scales seamlessly from 5V applications to high-load, three-phase machinery. We are continuously refining our on-board modules to improve efficiency, reliability, and device lifespan, while enhancing energy-saving performance to align with ESCO standards and global sustainability goals.
Q. Could you share details about the founders and your current team size?
A. I co-founded the company with our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), P. Warjurkar, whose technical expertise was instrumental in building the technology. Our journey was initially supported by my family, with our first funding coming from my mother. Today, we have a multidisciplinary team of 19, including electronics, power, and IT engineers, as well as specialists in finance, installation, and energy audits.
Q. Was the electronic architecture and control system developed entirely in-house?
A. Yes. Our team developed the entire architecture in-house, from circuit design and PCB development to chip-module integration. This process included continuous mentorship and validation through virtual testing labs before moving to real-world testing and securing final certifications.
Q. Where do you manufacture your products, and is it in-house or outsourced?
A. As an IP-driven company, we focus on technology development. While we handled prototyping in-house, we have transitioned to a third-party outsourced model in Amravati. Similar to the approach taken by Tesla or Apple, this allows us to scale efficiently while maintaining strict control over design and quality.
Q. Where are your products currently manufactured, and what is your funding status?
A. The company has been entirely bootstrapped to date. However, we are now actively seeking strategic investors to provide the capital infusion and market access needed for rapid expansion.
Q. What factors influenced your decision to outsource manufacturing?
A. We made a strategic choice to focus on our core strengths: R&D, IP development, and market growth. By outsourcing the production phase, which requires less continuous innovation, we can concentrate our resources on advancing our technology and building a stronger patent portfolio.
Q. Is there any similar technology in the market, or is your solution unique?
A. Yes. Backed by Indian and international patents, our solution is unique in that it aims to eliminate standby energy losses entirely, rather than just optimise. We believe this distinguishes us from any other existing technology.
Q. Can you talk about the journey of your technology from initial idea to market, especially after securing patents?
A. It was a journey of patience and optimisation. We spent three years refining the tech to ensure the cost was viable for the Indian market. After securing patents, we won first prize at the Global Entrepreneurship Conclave 2025, which provided vital validation from global experts and investors. Technically, the system acts as an intelligent, feedback-driven layer that integrates into existing circuits without altering device functionality.
Q. What is your legal structure and current market traction?
A. We are a private limited entity. We have already deployed over 200 devices across government, private, and consumer sectors, providing early market validation for our technology across diverse use cases.
Q. What are the key challenges you face in scaling?
A. The primary challenge is transitioning from a steady run to high-speed scaling. To achieve this, we need more than just capital; we are looking for strategic partners who can provide market access and capabilities for business expansion.
Q. Do you collaborate with academic or research institutions?
A. Our current focus is on a partnership with a public sector undertaking (PSU) to support technology deployment and advocacy, rather than formal academic research tie-ups.
Q. What is your ideal partner or distributor profile?
A. We are actively seeking partners aligned with climate tech and sustainability, particularly IT companies focused on ESG goals and energy-saving firms. Our ideal collaborators can support distribution, drive adoption, and help scale our technology across Indian and global markets.
Q. Are you looking for specific manufacturing vendors?
A. Yes. We are looking for reliable semiconductor and chip module manufacturing partners, with a strong preference for India-based companies. Our goal is to strengthen the domestic ecosystem by working with vendors that support high-quality production at scale.
Q. How has the market responded to your technology?
A. Initially, adoption was a challenge because the concept was entirely new. However, after earning certification from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and proving our results through real-world deployments, the response has shifted. Today, our proven performance drives acceptance more than direct pitching.
Q. What are the next challenges in scaling rapidly?
A. Having moved from validation to initial scale, our next challenge is accelerating from ‘10 to 90.’ This requires building a robust ecosystem of OEM partners, licensors, and strategic collaborators who can facilitate tech transfer and large-scale market access.
Q. Where will you focus future investments: engineering, manufacturing, or marketing?
A. Our primary focus remains on engineering and strengthening our IP portfolio. While we currently focus on energy savings and device lifespan, our long-term vision is to evolve into a carbon trading-aligned company, where every unit of energy saved translates into monetizable sustainability value.
Q. What upcoming innovations are you working on?
A. We are developing more advanced solutions within the standby energy space to build on our core technology. We also believe strong storytelling will be vital in showcasing how Indian innovation can lead the global sustainability domain.
Q. Are AI and edge technologies part of your roadmap?
A. Absolutely. We are developing AI-driven, edge-enabled chip modules for intelligent energy optimisation. Our approach combines deep tech with IoT connectivity, creating smart, networked systems that dynamically manage power consumption.
Q. How do you see power efficiency evolving in consumer electronics?
A. Efficiency is becoming a primary decision factor for consumers, especially younger generations who prioritise star ratings and brushless direct current (BLDC) systems. Our technology addresses the next frontier: eliminating hidden standby losses. Within a few years, we expect these solutions to deliver significant economic and energy savings at both the household and national levels.
Q. Any final thoughts for our readers?
A. Innovation is a gruelling journey, from the initial idea to scaling from ‘one to ten.’ In India, where few patented innovations are successfully commercialised, it is vital to support deep tech. True value lies in rigorous R&D, which often remains the unsung hero behind more visible marketing efforts.
