Kowtham Raj is responsible for strategic technology partnerships under the Corporate Centre of L&T Energy GreenTech, a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, a $27 billion Indian conglomerate. With a background in electrochemical engineering with exposure to lithium-ion batteries and electrolysers, he envisions green energy equipment and its value chain supplanting oil as the world’s most critical geo-strategic resource in the future. Kowtham is committed to building India’s green energy capabilities and contributing to its emergence as a capable hub for green energy product manufacturing.

In his current role, he is involved in business model identification, scouting technology partners, and indigenization of advanced energy technologies, including green hydrogen, energy storage, and power conversion systems. Kowtham has led collaborative initiatives with some of the world’s leading research institutions. Previously, he served as director of new energy initiatives at CES, a prominent American consulting firm specializing in the energy sector.

During his tenure at NITI Aayog, India’s Planning Ministry, Kowtham played a role in conceptualizing three flagship “Make in India” programs: the $2.4 billion Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Program, the $3.5 billion High-Efficiency Solar PV Program, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission. He is also the principal author of NITI Aayog’s National Strategy Document on Green Hydrogen.

Earlier in his career, Kowtham worked in Umicore’s battery materials division in Korea and an American electrolyser startup. He is a European Union ALISTORE scholarship recipient and a Future Energy Leader awardee of the World Energy Council.