(October 4, 2025) When Rakesh Patel left Vadodara in 2006, he arrived in Australi’s Darwin as a nervous young student with limited English and no safety net. The move was as daunting as it was hopeful: a new city, a new culture, and a dream of building a better life. Nearly two decades later, Patel has gone from classroom benches to boardrooms, from an immigrant engineer to the founder of AGILE Consulting Engineers, one of Darwin’s pioneering renewable energy consultancies. His next milestone is set for 2026, when he plans to take AGILE to India. “Ultimately, I want AGILE to stand as a propellant for delivering renewable energy projects across the globe and a bridge between Australia and India, proving that an Indian immigrant can build something extraordinary abroad while giving back to the motherland,” he shares with Global Indian.
A vision for renewable transformation
Founded in late 2021, in a short span of time, Rakesh Patel’s Australian startup has positioned itself as a leading project management consultancy in Darwin, offering adaptable engineering solutions that ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of safety and quality. At its core, AGILE is dedicated to helping energy and utility companies, as well as both government and private entities, fulfil their renewable energy targets.
The firm specialises in supporting large-scale Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects, areas that are critical to Australia’s Northern Territory’s ambitious clean energy plans. The startup has already made a mark with pioneering initiatives. It became the first engineering firm in Darwin to integrate Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology, implementing it across 20 sites that included both rooftop and ground-mounted solar installations. This innovation addressed grid stability, which is one of the most complex challenges in renewable energy.
Roots in Gujarat, dreams in Darwin
Patel’s journey began in Vadodara (Baroda), Gujarat, where he completed his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University in 2005. He grew up in a modest household, and his decision to pursue higher education abroad was a first in his family.
He moved to Australia in 2006 for a Masters of Electrical Management from Charles Darwin University. For him, the city proved a transformative home. “Darwin became my karmabhoomi, where I completed a double Masters in Engineering and in Engineering Management and secured work with a major government corporation,” he shares.
From the start, Patel saw his education as a means to a larger purpose. “At every step, I carried two things with me: the blessings of my parents, and the conviction that my success abroad must translate into giving back to India.” That sense of responsibility would later shape his entrepreneurial journey.
The leap into entrepreneurship
After working for more than a decade in the Australian energy sector, Patel began to feel that employment, while secure, was not enough to create the kind of legacy he envisioned. “I wanted to build something that could outlast me. Hence he dip his toes into entrepreneurship with goals to shape lives, inspire others, and push the boundaries of what was possible.
His vision coincided with a pivotal policy development. In 2020, Australia’s Northern Territory government announced its ambitious goal of achieving 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. Patel immediately recognised the scale of the challenge. “I knew the region, I understood its challenges, and I recognised a gap: while the vision was grand, the skills were scarce. That was the moment AGILE Consulting Engineers was born in late 2021.
Pioneering renewable solutions
Rakesh Patel points out the challenges that remain in Australia’s clean energy transition. The Northern Territory currently sits at about 18 percent renewable energy penetration, a stark contrast to South Australia, which has already crossed 70 percent. Bridging this gap, he believes, “requires not just ambition, but deep technical expertise and the courage to innovate.” Patel’s organisation has proved its mettle by becoming the first engineering firm in Darwin to integrate Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology.
The company is pushing the envelope further. It has applied for a $3 million Australian government grant to implement hybrid Solar + BESS + Hydrogen power plants across eight remote indigenous communities. For Patel, this is not just an engineering project but a moral mission. “This project isn’t just about stabilising the grid. It’s about giving affordable, clean energy to communities that have historically been left behind. This is about dignity, equality, and legacy,” the entrepreneur remarks.
Overcoming challenges as an immigrant entrepreneur
The thoughtful entrepreneur’s journey was far from smooth. As a first-generation immigrant, he faced cultural and personal hurdles that tested his resolve. “I walked into Australia with a heavy accent, limited English (having studied in Gujarati medium), and no ‘godfather’ to guide me. Every opportunity had to be earned, and every door had to be pushed open with twice the effort,” he tells.
In the early years, he often felt inadequate. “I often felt inferior just because of how I spoke. But determination can turn weaknesses into strengths. I channelled that insecurity into relentless hard work, learning, and building credibility brick by brick.”
Looking back, Patel believes those struggles were defining. “For entrepreneurs like me, the path is not handed down, rather carved, stone by stone, with sweat and sacrifice,” he remarks.
Milestones that matter
Among AGILE’s milestones, two stand out. The first is technical — leading to the integration of VPP technology in Darwin, a step that places the Northern Territory in a position of not only achieving its renewable energy targets but to do so in a way that ensures long-term stability. Patel sees this as a contribution not just to one region, but to the broader industry through knowledge sharing.
The second milestone is deeply personal. AGILE’s team conducted free training sessions in India at Nagpur Institute of Technology (NIT) and Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur. “Standing before students in the country I grew up in, teaching them about renewable energy, felt like a dream fulfilled,” Patel recalls. “It was proof that success has meaning, only when it is shared.”
Plans to build a legacy
The future of AGILE, Patel believes, lies in pursuing two parallel paths. “One is global expansion. In 2026, we plan to establish AGILE in India, contributing directly to the country’s renewable journey. The other is capacity building, continuing to invest in training and mentoring the next generation of engineers, both in Australia and in India.”
Innovation will continue to be the company’s driving force. Hybrid systems, green hydrogen, and digital tools that make renewable projects faster, smarter, and more accessible are all part of the entrepreneur’s roadmap. He envisions AGILE as both a leader in technology and a symbol of cross-border collaboration.
He puts it succinctly: “I want it to be a bridge between Australia and India proving that an Indian immigrant can build something extraordinary abroad while giving back to the motherland.”
Finding balance in family and simple joys
For all his professional commitments, the entrepreneur draws balance and perspective from his family. His wife and two young children are central to his life. “No matter how heavy the day, their laughter resets me,” he says. Recently, the family even welcomed two chickens into their home, embracing simple joys that keep them grounded.
Outside of work, Patel finds peace in gardening and swimming. He insists that true legacy begins not in boardrooms but at home. “If I can raise my children with values of courage, hard work, and integrity, then my life’s mission is already halfway fulfilled,” he remarks.
From Vadodara to Darwin, Rakesh Patel’s story encompasses professional and personal milestones, and a deep sense of responsibility. “If my story can inspire even a handful of young Indians to dream bigger, work harder, and carry their heritage with pride, then my purpose is served,” he reflects.
His journey from a student to entrepreneur, from an immigrant engineer to the founder of a pioneering consultancy, and his aspirations to build strategic ties with India, capture the spirit of immigrant dreams, giving back, and building across borders.
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Inspiring journey! Rakesh Patel work shows how vision and determination can create global impact. A true example of connecting India’s talent with Australia’s renewable future. Best wishes for the upcoming projects!
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