Shankar Achanta joined FuelCell Energy in April 2024 and currently holds the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO). As EVP, CPTO, Mr. Achanta leads the company’s advanced research, technology strategy, product management and global engineering driving innovation and commercialization of fuel cell systems, carbon capture and green hydrogen solutions. Mr. Achanta has more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector, driving collaboration across cross-functional teams and orchestrating the strategic direction of product portfolios. Most recently, Mr. Achanta served as the Vice President of Product Management and Systems Engineering at Sunnova Energy, spearheading the development and implementation of electrification solutions across residential, commercial, and community microgrid markets. Prior to Sunnova, Mr. Achanta led distribution automation, sensors and communication product lines at SEL, where he spearheaded research and development of power systems technologies for electric utilities and industrial market segments. Mr. Achanta is an innovator with multiple patents in energy systems and communication technologies, and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and a leadership certification from the Center for Creative Leadership.