Global building sector emissions have risen by 1% annually since 2010 due to urbanisation, and embodied carbon could make up 50% of emissions from new construction by 2050

India’s total building floor area is projected to be around 57,600 million sqm by 2050 from 15,800 million sqm in 2015

Buildings in India account for over 40% of the country’s total energy consumption, 20% of the raw material use, 20% of water use, and 20% of land use in cities. They are also responsible for 40% of total carbon emissions, 30% of solid waste generation, and 20% of water effluents

The transport sector contributes about 12.1% of India’s energy-related CO2 emissions and 9.7% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions

OVERVIEW

By 2050, it is estimated that half of India’s population will live in cities. Increased urbanisation is linked to rising emissions. As per an estimate, cities and towns in India contribute two-thirds more emissions per person than in rural India.

It is imperative for urban local bodies and state planning entities to plan for their transition to net-zero through climate adaptation and mitigation measures while building resilience in urban geographies. Since cities will increasingly play a role in India’s growth and development story, they will also be critical in helping India achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

To achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2070, urban areas need to transition to low-carbon systems in sectors such as built environment, transportation, and energy. Given the current scenario, it is imperative to look at emissions planning in metros as well as Tier 2 and 3 towns and cities and peri urban areas; and to build their resilience towards the impact of climate change.

Therefore, Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition, a joint initiative between Social Alpha and the U of T India Foundation in association with select urban local bodies, proposes to support innovators and entrepreneurs developing technology-led solutions to build climate resilience within urban geographies in India.

Focus Areas

Build

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Operate

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Dispose

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Mobility

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Build

With an expanding urban landscape in India, the demand for buildings (residential and commercial) is set to rise. The resultant impact on the environment in terms of emissions and waste is also expected to grow. To address this, there is a need for solutions that can optimise resource use, develop alternative materials, safely manage waste in the construction industry, and reduce its environmental impact, which can include but are not limited to:

  • Material and process-led innovations that are alternatives to conventionally used construction materials such as cement, bricks and timber and enable reduced water and energy consumption in the construction of buildings.
  • Process-led innovations that enable cleaner manufacturing of construction materials, which reduce/eliminate drudgery and harmful effects on human health.
  • Technology-enabled and/or process-led innovations that enable the collection, transportation, and segregation of C&D waste.
  • Material and process innovations that enhance the mechanical properties of C&D waste components to increase their life.

Operate

Energy

As the footprint of the real estate sector in India continues to expand, a rise in the demand for energy remains inevitable. However, it is essential that this rising demand is met through optimised and alternative sources of energy that are efficient, cost-effective, and minimise their impact on the environment. Here, innovations can include but are not limited to:

  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that address the needs of Indian climatic zones and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Renewable energy systems (solar, biomass, wind, or hydrokinetic) that enable cost competitiveness and facilitate adoption.
  • Biogas production that enables high performance and resource recovery.
  • Advanced materials and cell chemistry for cost-effective, high-performance batteries for small, medium and large-scale production.
Air

Over the years, India has consistently performed poorly in terms of enabling access to clean air, with the potential to reduce an average Indian’s lifespan by 5.3 years due to exposure to PM 2.5. As the situation continues to remain dire, there is a need for solutions that not only mitigate and address air pollution but enable the accurate measurement of its impact, and they include but are not limited to:

  • Material, design, and process innovations that can reduce defects and inconsistencies, leading to higher accuracies in the monitoring of air quality.
  • Low-cost air pollution control technologies, which are alternatives to conventionally used systems, are currently characterised by prohibitive costs.
  • Material innovations in filtration technologies that enable indoor air purification and are alternatives to conventionally used filters (HEPA, activated carbon).
Water and Sanitation

With the expansion of urban geographies, the demand for water is expected to rise, and it is essential that its distribution be equitable. However, this has consistently not been the case, highlighting how water needs to be valued as a circular resource at every aspect of its lifecycle (from access to quality and reuse). To do this, there is also a need for solutions to solve various challenges (scarcity, inadequate infrastructure, and O&M), and they include but are not limited to:

Drinking Water

  • Atmospheric water generators and desalinators (energy and cost-efficient) that reduce dependence on groundwater while enabling access to water suitable for consumption.
  • Network and pipeline monitoring that reduces inefficiencies in the distribution network and enables operations and maintenance of pipelines.
  • Operations and maintenance-related innovations that can ensure water quality in terms of non-networked access to water.
  • Filters (design, material used and process of filtration) that reduce inefficiencies in the existing filtration systems and target niche contaminants in endemic zones.

Stormwater Management & Municipal Sewage

  • Stormwater management (early warning systems, collection, treatment, reuse of stormwater)
  • Decentralised systems of sewage treatment at the household or community level, which can be retrofitted to existing plumbing systems and produce water that can be reused for non-potable purposes.
  • Mechanisation in the O&M of sewer lines and septic tanks and facilitating desludging operations.

Dispose

Today, India’s urban geographies are characterised by the unsustainable disposal of various streams of waste (organic, construction & demolition, solar, battery, plastic, sanitary, textile, chemical and toxic waste) in landfills and low-income settlements. With expanding urban geographies, there is a need for solutions to establish traceability, reduce consumption, and enable reuse and recycling. These include but are not limited to:

Collection, Segregation, and Disposal
  • Collection and upcycling of various waste streams to prevent their disposal in landfills, water bodies, or via open burning.
  • Advanced or automated sorting technologies that meet accuracy and speed benchmarks for sorting various waste streams.
  • Inclusion of digital platforms that enable real-time monitoring and optimisation of waste collection routes.
Waste to Value & New Materials
  • Recycling with improved efficiency, to produce high quality output in a cost-effective manner
  • Chemical recycling and advanced recycling which can enable derivation of high-value products from various waste streams.

Mobility

With rising urbanisation and an increase in disposable income, private vehicle ownership in India has seen an increase. However, these gains have not been equitable, and there is also a need to enhance access to public transport systems in the country, specifically to avoid challenges related to affordability, traffic congestion, road accidents, and adverse climatic impacts. Solutions to enable sustainable modes of urban mobility include but are not limited to:

  • Software and hardware for collision avoidance, traffic management, and human safety.
  • Enhanced use of public transportation by addressing challenges related to route optimisation, occupancy, timings, etc.
  • Powertrain and EV components (deep tech-based) to accelerate the adoption and efficiency of electric vehicles.
  • Ultra-fast charging and charging infrastructure.

Program Offerings

Pilot Deployments: Selected start-ups will receive up to INR 35 lakhs as pilot grants to deploy their product in a given urban local body over a period of 8 months based on a mapping exercise anchored by Social Alpha.
Market Access & Validation: Through the program, a start-up may pilot in a new geography, with the possibility of entering a new market for their product.
Mentorship Sessions & Workshops: One-on-one and cohort-based engagements with experts in urbanisation, business development (product-market fit, go-to-market strategy), government engagements, and fundraising.
Incubation: For a duration of 1 year with dedicated portfolio managers to navigate various facets related to the start-up’s growth across product and business, based on a detailed needs assessment.
Funding: Access to seed capital up to INR ~1 cr subject to due diligence by Social Alpha.
Engagement with the University of Toronto Ecosystem: The winning cohort will have access to a mentorship network through the U of T India Foundation.

Winning Cohort