Deep tech and new age energy are not epithets that flash in your mind while entering the Log9 headquarters near the Jakkur Aerodrome in northern Bengaluru. The whitewashed building is airy and filled with potted greens, with retrievers waddling around in the designated kennel area in the garden outside. An al fresco buffet dishes out hot meals on the rooftop, while geeks in tee-and-jean ‘uniforms’—the average age seems to be firmly on the right side of 30—roam about between foosball tables and smart meeting rooms.
But make no mistake, this understated campus is virtually the epicentre of India’s desperate thrust in a new global gold rush—a scramble for sustainable energy using clean sources and technology. Earlier this summer, Log9 turned heads and made headlines by making India’s first lithium-ion cells. Former ISRO chief K. Sivan gushed: “I want to see Log9 become another ISRO.” Log9 is barely eight years old, but already valued at ₹2,000 crore.
The reason for this palpable excitement is all in the requirements of the new energy mix. Just like black gold, aka oil, clean energy sources like solar and wind depend on ‘white gold’ or ‘green gold’— minerals and metals like copper, cobalt, zinc, silver and, especially, lithium. These are the raw materials that go into making batteries that power electric vehicles and other clean technologies.
The issue? Some of them, like lithium, are only available in a few parts of the world, where a veritable geopolitical gold rush has begun for control of these assets. Just like nations going to war for oil in the past, there is now a cold war over these resources.
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 06, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock