Gruner Renewable Energy (GRE), one of India’s emerging renewable energy companies, has appointed Dr Alok Sharma as Mentor & Advisor (R&D) to strengthen its technology roadmap and accelerate innovation across its clean energy initiatives. Dr Sharma brings decades of experience in the energy sector, with expertise spanning research and development, refining technologies, hydrogen, biofuels, renewable energy, carbon capture, catalysts and energy storage. His appointment is expected to enhance GRE’s capabilities as the company expands its integrated renewable energy solutions and advances its vision of building a technology-led clean energy ecosystem.
A distinguished energy scientist and industry leader, Dr. Sharma previously served as Director (R&D) and Board Member at Indian Oil Corporation Limited. He currently serves as Visiting Chair Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Oil & Gas at IIT Bombay and Professor of Practice at IIT Roorkee. He is also Senior Vice President of the Hydrogen Association of India and President of the National Lubricating Grease Institute – India.
An alumnus of IIT Delhi with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Dr Sharma has made significant contributions to India’s energy and refining sector. During his tenure at Gujarat Refinery, he played a key role in establishing India’s first Hydrocracker Unit. Over the course of his career, he has led several research programmes focused on emerging energy technologies and holds more than 60 granted patents in India and international markets.
Welcoming Dr Sharma to the organisation, Utkarsh Gupta, Founder and CEO, Gruner Renewable Energy, said, “At Gruner Renewable Energy, we are building a future-ready clean energy company by bringing together expertise, innovation and execution capabilities. Dr. Alok Sharma’s extensive experience in hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, biofuels and advanced energy technologies will further strengthen our research and innovation initiatives. His guidance will be valuable as we scale our BioCNG and other renewable energy businesses while contributing to India’s clean energy transition.”
Dr. Alok Sharma said, “India’s clean energy transition offers significant opportunities for innovation and sustainable development. Gruner Renewable Energy has demonstrated a strong commitment towards advancing renewable energy solutions. I look forward to contributing my experience in technology development and innovation to support the company’s growth and its mission of delivering sustainable energy solutions.”
Dr Sharma has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Endeavour Fellowship Award from the Government of Australia, ICMA Award, World Petroleum Congress Excellence Award, FIPI Innovation Award and CHT Innovation Award for his contributions to indigenous hydro-processing technologies and biofuel innovations.
He has also served as a Board Member of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Oil Industry Development Board, besides chairing industry initiatives focused on future biofuel technologies. Through this appointment, Gruner Renewable Energy further strengthens its commitment to research, innovation and sustainable growth while developing solutions to support India’s transition towards cleaner energy.
Founded in 2023, Gruner Renewable Energy has rapidly emerged as a significant player in India’s bioenergy sector. The company has developed a project pipeline exceeding ₹4,500 crore and expanded its presence across multiple states. Despite operating in a capital-intensive industry, the company has remained bootstrapped while maintaining positive EBITDA and recording strong growth. With a workforce of more than 1,000 professionals, Gruner Renewable Energy continues to invest in infrastructure that supports India’s ambition to increase domestic production of renewable fuels and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
