Greengine: The Algae-Powered Engine Driving Industrial Decarbonization in India
Learn how this IIT Kanpur alumnus is building India’s most promising climate-tech startup, Greengine, focused on biological carbon capture
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Key Takeaways
- Greengine, a Kanpur-based climate-tech startup, is pioneering microalgae-based carbon capture technology.
- Founded by IIT Kanpur alumnus Nitin Srivastava, the company aims to capture 1 billion tons of CO2 in the next decade.
- Backed by industry pilots with IOCL and EIL, Greengine combines sustainability with scalable innovation.
In 2010, while global discussions on climate change intensified, a young chemical engineering graduate, pursuing his M.Tech at IIT Kanpur, began exploring the potential of microalgae to mitigate carbon emissions. That student, Nitin Srivastava, who would go on to work nearly seven years in sustainability roles at leading corporates like Toshiba India and Diageo India, built a rudimentary bioreactor for his thesis, unaware it would later evolve into a pioneering climate solution.
Fast forward to 2015, Nitin founded Greengine Environmental Technologies Private Limited in Noida, a name born from the fusion of "Green" and "Engine." The venture became operational in 2017, when Srivastava returned to his hometown, Kanpur, committing full-time to his mission: decarbonising global industries and institutions through microalgae-based carbon capture technology.
Reinventing Carbon Capture with Microalgae
To address the critical issue of climate change and global warming, predominantly driven by rising CO2 emissions, Greengine has developed a sustainable solution: an engineered microalgae-based system for CO2 capture and utilisation. Their core innovation lies in harnessing the natural photosynthetic capabilities of microalgae to capture and convert CO2 into valuable biomaterials and bioenergy. Using custom-designed novel bioreactors, the company captures emissions either directly from industrial flue gases or ambient air. This not only reduces greenhouse gases but also generates commercial byproducts, creating a circular, revenue-generating model.
Unlike chemical-based systems, Greengine's biological approach is nature-aligned, cost-effective, modular, scalable and significantly more sustainable in terms of water and energy usage. With applications ranging from refinery, chemicals, power, cement and steel to tech campuses and urban environments, its solutions are tailored for both point-source and direct air capture.
Team, Technology, and Traction
Powered by a 15-member multidisciplinary team with over 80 years of collective experience, Greengine draws talent from India’s top institutions. The startup's lean but expert-driven structure ensures agility in innovation and deployment. Advisory support includes seasoned professionals from technical and business domains.
Notable early clients include Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Engineers India Limited (EIL), with full-scale pilot projects slated for deployment by mid-2025. Recognition has come swiftly, from being among HDFC Tech Awards' Top 30 startups to being selected for the Microsoft Synapses Challenge and Low Carbon Earth (LCE) 2024 cohort.
They are also members of CRIA (Carbon Removal India Alliance) and AFID (Alliance for Industry Decarbonization).
Scalable Business, Purpose-Driven Vision
Greengine's business model encompasses direct plant sales, installation, operations, biomaterials, and carbon credit generation. Its modular architecture enables flexible deployment capacities, from 10 to 50,000 tons per annum and beyond.
The company targets hard-to-abate industrial emitters and global corporates with net-zero ambitions. With the global carbon capture market projected to reach $25.3 billion by 2033, Greengine's offering is positioned for exponential growth.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite its promise, the path has not been easy. From investor scepticism to talent acquisition hurdles in Kanpur, Greengine's journey is marked by persistence and reinvention. Yet Nitin remains undeterred. "Climate solutions aren't short-term bets," he notes. "They're long-term commitments requiring bold innovation."
The company aims to capture 1 million tons of CO2 by 2027-28 and ultimately, 1 billion tons in the next decade. It plans to expand across sectors and geographies, especially in regions like the U.S., Europe, and Australia, where climate regulation is catalysing demand. For aspiring founders, Nitin offers simple advice: "Pursue impact, not valuation. The profits will follow. Measure success by the change you create for the planet."
