The Start-up Fights Global Phantom Energy Losses
From televisions left on standby to idle cranes in railway sheds, phantom energy drains persist. A Bengaluru start-up claims its system can reduce losses without disrupting operations.
Inno 91 Green Technologies, an Indian deep tech startup, has developed a chip-on-board system that monitors electrical loads in real time and disconnects power when devices are idle. Designed for households and industrial machinery, it can reduce energy waste without affecting normal operations.
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Devices, often left in standby mode, known as ‘vampire energy,’ are estimated to account for almost ₹690 billion of unnecessary electricity consumption each year. “During our research, we realised that most people, at home or in offices, take electricity for granted,” said Sourabh Tiwari, co-founder of Inno 91 Green Technologies.
“Even simple habits like leaving a TV, charger, or AC on standby add up to large losses. Our technology focuses on reducing that waste while keeping the devices safe and functional,” he points out.
The module-based devices can cut electricity usage by around 7-10% of monthly bills while extending the life of electronics and lowering copper losses. In industrial settings, the technology has been deployed on machinery, including computer numerical control (CNC) and vertical machining centre (VMC) machines, as well as EOT cranes at IRCTC car sheds, where equipment often remains on standby for most of the year. “The scale of impact is significant when you look at industrial applications,” notes Tiwari. “It is not just about savings on the bill. It also enhances equipment safety and operational efficiency.”
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The system features adaptive power regulation and an intelligent feedback mechanism, ensuring power resumes instantly when a device becomes active. Designed for wide-scale adoption, it works seamlessly in both single-phase consumer setups and three-phase industrial systems. Validated through multiple prototype iterations, the technology has proven reliable, scalable, and safe across applications from household chargers to heavy industrial machinery.
By intelligently cutting standby power, reducing copper losses, and improving equipment safety, the technology provides a practical solution for both consumers and industry. “We want to show that sustainable technology can be practical, scalable, and reliable,” says Sourabh, “Saving energy is just the first step, opening the doors for carbon credits and a greener future.”