Researchers Develop New Material That Makes Clean Energy Storage More Compact and Affordable

Researchers at ARCI have developed a spinel nanocomposite phase change material (PCM) that boosts thermal battery efficiency by up to 45%, offering a cost‑effective solution for clean energy storage in concentrated solar power and industrial waste heat recovery systems. This breakthrough, published in Materials Today Chemistry, aligns with India’s Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative and global clean energy goals.

Breakthrough in Simple Words

Scientists have found a smart way to make thermal batteries—used to store heat for later—work better and cost less. These batteries save heat from the sun in solar power plants or capture wasted heat from factories, turning it into useful energy.

The ARCI team discovered that mixing just 1% of special spinel nanoparticles into the storage material helps batteries hold 45% more heat.

What This Means

• Smaller tanks are needed to store the same amount of energy
• Lower costs for building and running these systems
• More efficient clean energy for homes, industries, and power plants

This breakthrough makes clean energy storage cheaper, more compact, and more powerful—helping India and the world move closer to reliable renewable energy.

Key Breakthrough

• Institution: International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), under India’s Department of Science and Technology
• Lead Scientist: Dr. Mani Karthik
• Innovation: Spinel oxide nanoparticles added to PCM via a simple co‑precipitation method
• Impact: Just 1% nanoparticle addition increased specific heat capacity by 45%, enabling more compact and efficient thermal energy storage

Why It Matters

• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): TES systems are critical for storing solar heat and releasing it when sunlight is unavailable
• Industrial Waste Heat Recovery: Captures and reuses excess heat, reducing energy loss
• Cost Savings: Higher energy density means smaller tanks, less construction material, and lower capital/operational costs. 
• Scalability: The process is cost‑effective and scalable, making it suitable for large‑scale deployment

Global Relevance

• Clean Energy Transition: Supports worldwide efforts to decarbonize power generation. 
• Compact Design: Enables next‑generation thermal batteries that are lighter, cheaper, and more efficient. 
• Indigenous Expertise: Strengthens India’s position in advanced energy materials research while contributing to global sustainability

Comparative Advantages

Feature	Conventional PCM	Spinel Nanocomposite PCM
Specific Heat Capacity	Baseline	+45% increase
Thermal Stability	Moderate	Excellent
Tank Size	Larger	Reduced by ~40%
Cost Efficiency	Higher material & construction costs	Lower capital & operational costs
Scalability	Limited	Scalable, cost‑effective process

Mechanism of Improvement

• Nanoparticle Dispersion: Uniform distribution increases surface area. 
• Stable Spinel Oxide Layer: Forms at the PCM interface, enhancing surface energy
• Result: Higher energy storage per unit mass, improved thermal conductivity, and long‑term stability

Strategic Impact

• India’s Energy Goals: Supports Aatma Nirbhar Bharat by advancing indigenous clean energy technologies. 
• Global Adoption: Potential to revolutionize thermal batteries for CSP plants worldwide. 
• Publication: Materials Today Chemistry (Elsevier), 2026, DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2025.103282

Tata Power, Keppel and Tata Realty Partner to Deliver AI‑Driven Cooling‑as‑a‑Service at Intellion Park, Chennai

• 12,100 TR Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) deployment to reduce facility energy consumption by over 20%
• AI- and ML-driven Operations Nerve Centre to enable real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic performance optimisation
• Collaboration brings together complementary expertise to establish CaaS as a scalable model for large and ultra-large commercial and industrial developments in India

Tata Power Trading Company Limited (TPTCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power, in collaboration with Keppel Limited’s Infrastructure Division (Keppel), has partnered with Infopark Properties Limited (IPL), a unit of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited (TRIL), to deploy a large-scale CaaS solution at Intellion Park in Chennai.

Intellion Park spans 25.27 acres, comprising both special economic zones (SEZs) and non-SEZs, and is strategically located in Taramani’s IT corridor. With a total installed capacity of 12,100 TR (tonnes of refrigeration), the project is scheduled to go live in October 2026 under a 15-year contract. Engineered with high-efficiency equipment, intelligent controls, and optimised lifecycle operations, the solution is expected to reduce the facility’s overall energy consumption by ~20%.

At the core of the solution is an AI- and ML-driven Operations Nerve Centre (ONC), patented by Keppel, which enables real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic performance optimisation to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across the facility.

Intellion Park sources green power from Tata Power, and the addition of CaaS further strengthens its integrated, low-carbon energy ecosystem. Over time, the partnership is expected to extend to the broader heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, including the low-side air-handling systems, unlocking additional efficiency gains, improving occupant comfort, and enabling a more holistic approach to energy optimisation.

Tata Power, along with consortium partner Keppel, provides innovative, reliable, and low-carbon Cooling-as-a-Service solutions which are scalable, premium, and future-ready. These grow with the clean energy needs, require no upfront investment, and integrate with emerging technologies to deliver seamless, sustainable, and cost-efficient cooling.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power, said: “Anchored in the India Cooling Action Plan, India’s commercial real estate sector is a fast-growing source of energy demand, driven by rising cooling needs. In this context, optimal cooling solutions are a critical lever, especially as the country continues to record peak power demand year after year. Tata Power is leveraging its expertise and innovative models such as Cooling-as-a-Service to deliver efficient, low-carbon cooling at scale. Its partnership with Keppel and TRIL at Intellion Park demonstrates how integrated solutions combining clean energy and advanced cooling can accelerate decarbonisation, enhance efficiency, and deliver long-term value. The company is well positioned to scale these capabilities further through Utilities-as-a-Service and Energy-as-a-Service offerings for real estate, data centres, GCCs, and other C&I customers.”

As TRIL advances its ambition to expand its portfolio to approximately 30 million sq. ft. over the next five years, with a focus on its net-zero goals by 2045, Tata Power and Keppel are well-positioned to support this journey through their complementary and integrated energy capabilities.

Mr. Sanjay Dutt, MD & CEO, Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited, added: “This agreement marks a fundamental shift in how we design, operate, and sustain modern commercial assets - from ownership-led infrastructure to a performance-driven, service-led model where outcomes define success. By bringing together Tata Power's operational discipline, Keppel's global leadership in Cooling-as-a-Service, and Tata Realty's long-term asset stewardship, we are creating a platform that blends local execution with global technical excellence. This is not just a cooling contract - it is a blueprint for how forward-looking organizations collaborate to deliver better operational outcomes, superior user experience, and long-term environmental value.”

Beyond Intellion Park, Tata Power and Keppel have jointly secured additional Cooling-as-a-Service projects and are building on a robust pipeline of opportunities. These span commercial real estate and specialised industrial facilities including data centres and advanced manufacturing as well as district cooling systems for master-planned cities and large mixed-use developments such as airports.

Ms Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel’s Infrastructure Division, said: “Cooling is no longer a standalone utility and is becoming core to how the built environment and commercial assets are designed, operated, and decarbonised. Through Cooling-as-a-Service, Keppel brings together engineering excellence and lifecycle operations to deliver efficient, reliable, and more sustainable cooling. Our proprietary AI- and ML-enabled Operations Nerve Centre will continuously optimise Intellion Park’s energy performance in real time, thus enhancing energy efficiency, system resilience, and cost outcomes.Together with Tata Power and Tata Realty, we are establishing a scalable model to deploy Cooling-as-a-Service at scale to meet rapidly growing demand, including across the Tata Group’s portfolio as it advances towards its net-zero ambitions.”

According to the International Energy Agency, India is expected to become the world’s largest consumer of space cooling by 2050. In this context, future-facing solutions such as Cooling-as-a-Service will play a critical role in supporting India’s energy transition and sustainability goals.