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 mallapragadaAssistant 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.
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 performance parameters affect prospects for scaling in the coming decades,” Mallapragada said. “This analysis translates into tangible targets for researchers, guiding the development of alternative technologies that balance efficiency, scalability, and resource availability.”
Unlike colleagues who develop new catalysts or materials, Mallapragada focuses on decision-support frameworks that bridge laboratory innovation and large-scale implementation. “Our modeling helps identify early-stage constraints, whether they stem from material supply chains or production costs, that could hinder scalability,” he said.
For instance, if a new catalyst performs well but relies on rare materials, his team evaluates its viability from both cost and sustainability perspectives. This approach informs researchers about where to direct their efforts—be it improving selectivity, reducing energy consumption, or minimizing resource dependency.
Aviation presents a particularly challenging sector for decarbonization due to its unique energy demands and stringent constraints on weight and power. The energy required for takeoff, coupled with the need for long-distance flight capabilities, demands a highly energy-dense fuel that minimizes volume and weight. Currently, this is achieved using gas turbines powered by traditional aviation liquid fuels.
“The energy required for takeoff sets a minimum power requirement,” he noted, emphasizing the technical hurdles of designing propulsion systems that meet these demands while reducing carbon emissions.
Mallapragada highlights two primary decarbonization strategies: the use of renewable liquid fuels, such as those derived from biomass, and electrification, which can be implemented through battery-powered systems or hydrogen fuel. While electrification has garnered significant interest, it remains in its infancy for aviation applications. Hydrogen, with its high energy per mass, holds promise as a cleaner alternative. However, substantial challenges exist in both the storage of hydrogen and the development of the necessary propulsion technologies.
Mallapragada’s research examined specific power required to achieve zero payload reduction and Payload reduction required to meet variable target fuel cell-specific power, among other factors.
Hydrogen stands out due to its energy density by mass, making it an attractive option for weight-sensitive applications like aviation. However, storing hydrogen efficiently on an aircraft requires either liquefaction, which demands extreme cooling to -253°C, or high-pressure containment, which necessitates robust and heavy storage systems. These storage challenges, coupled with the need for advanced fuel cells with high specific power densities, pose significant barriers to scaling hydrogen-powered aviation.
Mallapragada’s research on hydrogen use for aviation focused on the performance requirements of on-board storage and fuel cell systems for flights of 1000 nmi or less (e.g. New York to Chicago), which represent a smaller but meaningful segment of the aviation industry. The research identified the need for advances in hydrogen storage systems and fuel cells to ensure payload capacities remain unaffected. Current technologies for these systems would necessitate payload reductions, leading to more frequent flights and increased costs.
“Energy systems are not static. 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, NYU Tandon
A pivotal consideration in adopting hydrogen for aviation is the upstream impact on hydrogen production. The incremental demand from regional aviation could significantly increase the total hydrogen required in a decarbonized economy. Producing this hydrogen, particularly through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, would place additional demands on energy grids and necessitate further infrastructure expansion.
Mallapragada’s analysis explores how this demand interacts with broader hydrogen adoption in other sectors, considering the need for carbon capture technologies and the implications for the overall cost of hydrogen production. This systemic perspective underscores the complexity of integrating hydrogen into the aviation sector while maintaining broader decarbonization goals.
Mallapragada’s work underscores the importance of collaboration across disciplines and sectors. From identifying technological bottlenecks to shaping policy incentives, his team’s research serves as a critical bridge between scientific discovery and societal transformation.
As the global energy system evolves, researchers like Mallapragada are illuminating the path forward—helping ensure that innovation is not only possible but practical.
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