A Vision for a Decarbonized Future

This sponsored article is brought to you by NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy systems, a growing number of researchers are delving into the design and optimization of emerging technologies. At the forefront of this effort is Dharik Mallapragada, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon. Mallapragada is dedicated to understanding how new energy technologies integrate into an evolving energy landscape, shedding light on the intricate interplay between innovation, scalability, and real-world implementation.

Mallapragada’s Sustainable Energy Transitions group is interested in developing mathematical modeling approaches to analyze low-carbon technologies and their energy system integration under different policy and geographical contexts. The group’s research aims to create the knowledge and analytical tools necessary to support accelerated energy transitions in developed economies like the U.S. as well as emerging market and developing economy countries in the global south that are central to global climate mitigation efforts.

Bridging Research and Reality

“Our group focuses on designing and optimizing emerging energy technologies, ensuring they fit seamlessly into rapidly evolving energy systems,” Mallapragada says. His team uses sophisticated simulation and modeling tools to address a dual challenge: scaling scientific discoveries from the lab while adapting to the dynamic realities of modern energy grids.

“Energy systems are not static,” he emphasized. “What might be an ideal design target today could shift tomorrow. Our goal is to provide stakeholders—whether policymakers, venture capitalists, or industry leaders—with actionable insights that guide both research and policy development.”

Dharik Mallapragada is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon.

Mallapragada’s research often uses case studies to illustrate the challenges of integrating new technologies. One prominent example is hydrogen production via water electrolysis—a process that promises low-carbon hydrogen but comes with a unique set of hurdles.

“For electrolysis to produce low-carbon hydrogen, the electricity used must be clean,” he explained. “This raises questions about the demand for clean electricity and its impact on grid decarbonization. Does this new demand accelerate or hinder our ability to decarbonize the grid?”

Additionally, at the equipment level, challenges abound. Electrolyzers that can operate flexibly, to utilize intermittent renewables like wind and solar, often rely on precious metals like iridium, which are not only expensive but also are produced in small amounts currently. Scaling these systems to meet global decarbonization goals could require substantially expanding material supply chains.

“We examine the supply chains of new processes to evaluate how precious metal usage and other