Many factories in India employ industrial steam systems to power machinery and to manufacture their products. This steam often passes through valves and loses pressure without being used. It is like letting money float away.
Now, an IIT Madras startup called Wankel Energy has found a way to save that energy. They have built the Phoenix steam expander. The device changes extra steam pressure into electricity. This means factories can get more power without adding new boilers or burning more fuel.
The company has already raised one million dollars in pre seed funding led by Shastra VC and angel investors. This money will help them build devices and expand into new industries. The news has caught the attention of both business leaders and the climate tech community.
Every new product needs proof in the real world. Wankel Energy began its first pilot at Hatsun Dairy in Salem. Those results gave them confidence to move forward. The company now plans six more pilots in dairy plants, textile factories, paper mills, and chemical industries.
They have already received verbal orders for more than forty units. If these turn into deals, Wankel Energy could become a trusted name in clean energy technology. This is only the start, but it shows the demand is real.
Wankel Energy is not the only company working on expanders. Many older machines fail when steam is wet or pressure changes. That makes them hard to use in real plants. Phoenix is different. It has a rotary steam expander design that adjusts to changes and keeps running.
This focus on real factory problems is what makes the startup special. It is building a machine that can survive the daily work of an Indian plant. That difference could give them a strong position in the Indian renewable energy market.
The team says they want to build more than one thousand units in the next decade. If they reach it, the savings could be worth hundreds of crores and big cuts in carbon emissions.
The company has also shown interest in global markets. Many countries face the same problem of wasted steam. If Phoenix proves itself in India, it could travel abroad. The startup has already received recognition at global events like the MIT Climate and Energy Prize.
For now, the focus is on India. The next steps are to finish pilots, deliver early orders, and show reliable results.
India needs energy solutions that are practical, not shiny. Wankel Energy is creating a tool that helps industries save money and reduce emissions. The startup shows that climate tech innovation in India can be simple and powerful.
Also read | Inside Mission Shakti 5: The Largest Women Police Rally in India
