Atanu Mukherjee is CEO of Dastur Energy Inc., a Texas-based firm working on clean energy transition and carbon management for hard-to-abate industries. The company offers end-to-end commercial-scale clean energy solutions that deliver sustained long-term techno-economic impact. Atanu works in the energy, materials and commodity industry, covering areas such as strategy, technology, engineering, operations and finance. Under his leadership, Dastur Energy has led innovative projects in North America, the Middle East and India. He has worked with the US Department of Energy, the US’ National Carbon Capture Center, the Government of India and the UAE, on the policy, technology and economics of gasification, methanol, hydrogen and related carbon capture mechanisms for low carbon fuels, clean power, clean chemicals, clean steel, and the oil and gas industries. He advises international private equity firms and investors on asset revitalisation, mergers and acquisitions, and investment strategies. Prior to this, Atanu held senior leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation. He has nearly 50 publications on energy, materials, economics and computer science, and holds multiple patents.
Atanu believes that low-carbon carriers such as hydrogen will play a significant role in industrial decarbonisation. In his view, India’s power sector has seen significant transformation, driven by growth in power generation capacity and improved access to electricity. “Although there is increased emphasis on renewable energy, coal remains a significant part of India’s energy mix. The transition to alternative sources will require concerted efforts, investments and a phased approach. Factors such as grid stability, intermittency of renewable energy and the need for reliable baseload power supply pose challenges that need to be addressed. In the near term, the power sector’s reliance on coal will drive a crucial need to leverage CCUS technologies to handle CO2 emissions,” he remarks.
As a leader, Atanu believes in fostering a collaborative approach to inspire and challenge his teams to excel. His hobbies include golfing, playing the piano and flying as a private pilot. He divides his time between Austin, Texas; and Kolkata, India. He holds a joint graduate degree in Engineering and Management from MIT’s School of Engineering, and the MIT Sloan School of Management.