The Celestial Earth

What The Celestial Earth does

The Celestial Earth is a Gurugram, India-based research and consulting organization founded in 2012 that provides policy research, energy and environment modeling, and sustainable development advisory services to government, multilateral, and institutional clients. Its core technology stack combines Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM), energy systems modeling (TIMES MARKAL, MESSAGEix), Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) macroeconomic modeling, geospatial analytics (GIS and remote sensing), and machine learning-based climate analytics. The firm has developed several proprietary tools, including India's first state-level IAM (pioneered for Kerala), the ML-enabled SPIBEAT cooling demand assessment tool, the State Natural Resource Pathway Calculator (implemented in Odisha), the Smart Sustainable City Development Index (SSCDI), and decision-support assets used in the IESS 2047 national energy planning model developed for NITI Aayog.

The firm generates revenue exclusively through professional services: project-based consulting engagements, policy research mandates, capacity-building workshops, and the publication of reports and white papers. Its customer base spans central ministries and NITI Aayog, more than nine Indian state governments (Kerala, Goa, Punjab, Telangana, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and others), and international organizations including the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, GIZ, ERIA, and the SAARC Energy Centre, supplemented by select foundation and industry clients such as the Toyota Foundation and FICCI. Distribution is entirely direct, with go-to-market executed through formal procurement, professional networks, international climate forums (COP, T20, G20, Asia Clean Energy Forum), and thought leadership publications.

The company is led by Founder CEO Dr. Tania Ray Bhattacharya and Executive Director Dr. Anindya Bhattacharya, both PhD-level specialists, supported by a lean team of approximately 12 employees (with up to 20-30 core contributors including advisors and panelists) and a research network spanning Kyoto University, Yokohama National University, IIASA, IGES, and LSE. The firm is recognized as a woman-owned business by the World Bank (2020) and reports 35+ peer-reviewed publications, with operations across India, the UK, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and broader Asia-Pacific markets.

Name

The Celestial Earth

Legal name

The Celestial Earth

Website

https://thecelestialearth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Celestial Earth is a Gurugram, India-based research and consulting firm providing integrated assessment modeling, energy systems modeling, and policy research to government bodies, multilateral institutions, and foundations on energy, climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Assessment / Valuation (EUAHAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Satellite/Aerial/Remote Sensing MRV (Methane plumes, land-use change) (EUAHADAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable development consulting
• Energy systems modeling
• Climate policy research
• Integrated assessment modeling
• Biodiversity conservation advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurugram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for government bodies, multilateral organizations, and institutional clients in areas of energy, environment, ecosystem, and sustainable development policy research.
2. Policy Research Reports and Publications: Development and publication of specialized reports, white papers, and analytical publications for government and institutional clients.
3. Capacity Building and Training: Training workshops on energy modelling, biodiversity valuation, and environmental planning conducted for government officials and stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Celestial Earth is a research and consulting organization that provides policy research, integrated assessment modeling, and analytical services in energy, environment, ecosystem, and sustainable development. Its service portfolio spans Energy & Water advisory, Ecosystem & Biodiversity conservation, Natural Resource Policy Research, Sustainable Development advisory, and Modeling & Data Analytics supported by proprietary tools such as the Decision Support Tool, Load Dispatch tool, Energy Calculator, Energy System Model (MESSAGEix), and ORANI/CGE macroeconomic model.

Product overview

The Celestial Earth is a research and consulting organization (not a software product company) offering professional services in sustainable development. Its service portfolio includes Energy & Water management, Ecosystem & Biodiversity conservation, Policy Research on Natural Resource Conservation & Management, Sustainable Development advisory, and Modeling & Data Analytics. Under Modeling & Data Analytics, it offers specialized tools including a Decision Support Tool, Load Dispatch tool, Energy Calculator, Energy System Model (MESSAGEix), and ORANI/CGE macroeconomic model. The organization also operates the Celestial Earth Development Council (CEDC). The company produces research publications, white papers, and sector-specific reports (such as cooling action plans, climate finance analyses, and biodiversity assessments) rather than a unified software product or platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEDC: Celestial Earth Development Council - a division focused on development initiatives
• TCE Decision Support Tool
• SPIBEAT
• The Climate Compass

Products and services

• Energy & Water Advisory Advisory and consulting services focused on energy and water resource planning, assessment, and management for government and institutional clients.
• Ecosystem & Biodiversity Conservation Services Research and consulting services on ecosystem services valuation, biodiversity conservation planning, and habitat mapping for governments and research clients.
• Policy Research on Natural Resource Conservation & Management Policy research and advisory on optimal use, conservation, and management of natural resources (energy, water, ecosystem, biodiversity) to support sustainable development goals.
• Sustainable Development Advisory Cross-cutting sustainable development advisory covering climate change, green transition pathways, and integrated environment-economy-society analysis for governments and multilateral clients.
• Modeling & Data Analytics Services Integrated model-based policy assessment framework combining data science, integrated assessment modeling, energy systems modeling, CGE analysis, geospatial analytics, and ML-based climate analytics for sustainable development policy clients.
• Celestial Earth Development Council (CEDC) Sub-brand of The Celestial Earth that runs development-focused programs, stakeholder outreach, and capacity-building activities including the annual Pathways to Resilience conferences.
• TCE Decision Support Tool Proprietary decision support tool used by The Celestial Earth for policy assessment, providing analytical outputs across energy, environment, and economic dimensions.
• City Energy Models / Load Dispatch Energy load dispatch modeling capability for cities and regions, supporting planning of least-cost energy supply and demand balancing.
• Energy System Model (MESSAGEix) Energy systems modeling offering based on the MESSAGEix framework to simulate least-cost energy transition pathways at national and sub-national levels.
• ORANI / CGE Macroeconomic Model Computable General Equilibrium (CGE / ORANI) macroeconomic modeling service used to quantify economy-wide impacts of energy, climate, and resource policies.
• Energy Calculator Energy Calculator offering used to perform energy demand and resource calculations as part of project-based modeling engagements.
• SPIBEAT Cooling Demand Assessment Tool Machine learning-enabled tool used by The Celestial Earth for assessing cooling demand in city cooling action plans, combining building energy performance analysis with machine learning.
• Policy Research Reports and Publications Specialized policy research reports, white papers, and analytical publications developed for government and institutional clients.
• Capacity Building and Training Workshops Training workshops on energy modeling, biodiversity valuation, and environmental planning delivered to government officials and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• India's first state-level Integrated Assessment Model for Kerala green transition
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MOU signed between The Celestial Earth and KCIC for climate innovation and financing collaboration. Dr. Tania Bhattacharya signed the agreement with KCIC CEO Mr. Prabhakar Vanam at KCIC's Nairobi office in 2023.
• Dhaka Workshop Collaborators (Bangladesh)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Final consultation workshop held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on regional climate and environmental planning cooperation.
• Haryana Forest DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Waterbodies of Gurugram City project, supported by Haryana Government, Haryana Forest Department, GMDA & MCG for pond rejuvenation and biodiversity conservation.
• NITI Aayog, Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on national and sub-national energy planning model development including IESS 2047 version updates and state energy action plans.
• West Bengal Climate Finance FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-day stakeholders consultation and workshop in Kolkata on the Roadmap of the West Bengal Climate Finance Facility, advancing climate finance mechanisms.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW): India-based policy research institution focused on energy, environment, and climate change. Closely comparable in terms of subnational climate planning, government advisory work, and analytical modeling, with a comparable thought-leadership posture.
• Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP): India-based research organization working on energy systems modeling, climate policy, and sustainability — overlapping directly with TCE's IAM, MESSAGEix, and energy planning work, often competing for the same state-government mandates.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): India's largest sustainability research institute with deep expertise in energy modeling, climate policy, and biodiversity. Directly comparable to TCE in mission, client base (government and multilaterals), and integrated assessment capability, though at significantly greater scale.
• Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe): India-based energy and climate policy research organization providing research and consulting to government and multilaterals. Notable overlap: IRADe is a former employer of one of TCE's senior researchers and competes in adjacent energy and climate mandates.
• IORA Ecological Solutions: India-based environmental consulting firm working on state action plans on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Direct comparable in subnational climate and biodiversity work — notable as a former employer of a TCE Senior Research Associate.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Global research institute based in Vienna and the original developer of the MESSAGEix energy system model that TCE uses. TCE's Executive Director is a Guest Research Scholar at IIASA, indicating a strong technical and collaborative relationship and a direct overlap in IAM/energy systems modeling.
• Climate Policy Initiative (CPI): Global climate finance policy organization with deep engagement in India on climate finance facilities (including West Bengal, where TCE also works). Comparable in serving multilaterals and state governments on climate finance, though with a global footprint.
• World Resources Institute India (WRI India): India arm of global environmental think tank WRI, working on climate, energy, and sustainable cities. Overlaps significantly with TCE on city-level cooling plans, state-level climate action, and sustainable development advisory, but with much larger institutional scale.
• Resources for the Future (RFF): US-based independent research institution focused on energy, environmental, and natural resource economics. Comparable in integrating CGE/energy modeling with environmental policy analysis, though operating in a very different (US/EU) policy environment.

Regional players

• NIPFP (National Institute of Public Finance and Policy): India-based autonomous research institution working on public finance, energy policy, and climate-related macroeconomic analysis. Comparable in policy research depth and government access, with overlap on the CGE-based macroeconomic impact assessment work TCE does.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-celestial-earth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Celestial Earth