Growing Cities: New City Development and Design
June 13, 2022
Urban Oasis: Supportive Housing
May 5, 2018
Sky Blue Impact

Emerging Markets: Off-Grid Social Housing

Location

Africa

Type

Social Housing Project

Scope

500 Dwelling Units +

Value

$100 Million

Increasing the equitable deployment of capital to optimize Financial, Social and Environmental Returns

Sky Blue Impacts’ approach to social housing in emerging markets hinges on integrating high-density development with renewable energy solutions, addressing the critical energy needs of large-scale communities. By combining solar farms (1-5 MW) and LNG-powered fuel cells with a robust energy management system, their model ensures seamless energy supply for projects starting at 1,000 dwelling units on a minimum of 20 hectares. This is particularly vital in areas with limited or no existing infrastructure, as seen in their African projects.

Their strategy emphasizes cost reduction through:

  • Smart funding solutions: Likely leveraging public-private partnerships, grants, or innovative financing to lower upfront costs.
  • Smart building design: Optimizing materials and layouts to reduce construction expenses while maintaining quality.
  • Cost transfer strategies: Possibly shifting infrastructure costs to shared models or integrating revenue-generating retail to subsidize housing.

The inclusion of social infrastructure (e.g., schools, clinics) and retail alongside housing creates self-sustaining communities, enhancing livability and economic viability. Lessons from Africa—where energy and infrastructure gaps are acute—highlight the importance of renewable energy integration to enable development where traditional grids are unreliable or absent.

This model aligns with the needs of growing metropolitan areas in emerging markets, where land availability near cities and energy access are key constraints. However, challenges like securing large land parcels, navigating local regulations, and ensuring long-term maintenance of energy systems may require tailored strategies per region.

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