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Americans Need to Earn 70.1% More Today Than Six Years Ago to Afford the Median-priced Home

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1 year ago

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Americans now need to earn $114,000 to afford the median-priced homePending home sales fall for the fourth straight month YoY, down 3.2%Active listings rise 30.6% YoY, surpassing April 2020 levelsPrice reductions hit 18.0% of listings

AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A U.S. household now needs to earn $114,000 annually to afford a median-priced home. That’s up 70.1% from $67,000 just six years ago according to the Realtor.com® April Housing Trends Report. While it’s clear that buying a home has become significantly more expensive, there are optimistic signs that today’s market is slowly shifting in buyers’ favor. Inventory is climbing, more sellers are adjusting their prices, and buyers are beginning to gain a bit more leverage in the market.

“Even with today’s affordability hurdles, meaningful changes in the market could give buyers a better shot at finding a home,” said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com®. “The number of homes for sale is rising in many markets, giving shoppers more choices than they’ve had in years. Sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing, underscored by the price reductions we’re seeing, and while higher mortgage rates are certainly weighing on demand, the silver lining is that the market is starting to rebalance. This could create opportunities for buyers who are prepared.”

April 2025 Housing Metrics – National (*For metro stats, see Table 1 and Table 2 below)

Metric

April 2025

Change over

Mar. 2025 (MoM)

Change over

Apr. 2024 (YoY)

Change over
Apr. 2019

Median listing price

$431,250

+1.5 %

+0.3 %

+36.9 %

Active listings

959,251

+7.5 %

+30.6 %

-15.6 %

New listings

471,788

+8.2 %

+9.2 %

-14.6 %

Median days on market

50

-3 days

+4 days

 -4 days

Share of active listings with price reductions

18.0 %

+0.5 percentage points

+2.5 percentage points

+3.5 percentage points

Median List Price Per Sq.Ft.

$233

+1.0 %

+1.1 %

+54.0 %

A $114,000 Homeownership Threshold
Since 2019, the income required to afford the median-priced home has risen $47,000 to $114,00. This figure assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage, a 20% down payment, and no more than 30% of gross monthly income spent on housing. The widening gap is fueled by a combination of rapid home price appreciation and elevated mortgage rates but in some markets, the bar is even higher.

Markets with the Highest Required Incomes to Afford a Home

Metro Area

Required Income to Afford Median Home

Required Income vs Apr. 2019

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$370,069

+54.3 %

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$263,023

+30.5 %

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$315,892

+86.0 %

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

$258,926

+73.4 %

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

$206,777

+54.9 %

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

$232,095

+81.9 %

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

$208,687

+69.4 %

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

$158,462

+42.2 %

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

$167,481

+61.7 %

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$164,682

+59.1 %

Five California markets showed up in the list above. The state, along with many others represented here, are among the lowest scorers in a recent Realtor.com® analysis, which assigned a grade (A+ through F) to each state based on home affordability. And, it’s clear that California has a lot of homework to do – pun intended.

January Set the Tone and April Followed: Pending Home Sales Continue to Drop
From October to December last year, pending home sales were relatively stronger on a year-over-year basis. But since January, the momentum has shifted, and in April, pending home sales declined 3.2% compared with a year ago, marking the fourth consecutive month of annual declines. A renewed rise in mortgage rates, now back to levels seen in early 2024, is likely a key factor behind the slowdown. As borrowing costs climbed again in late April, some buyers who had been waiting for more favorable conditions are hitting pause, injecting new uncertainty into the market as it moves into the typically busy summer season.

Shifts in Pending Home Sales YoY

Month

YoY Change in Pending Home Sales

April 2025

– 3.2 %

March 2025

– 5.3 %

February 2025

– 5.4 %

January 2025

– 4.1 %

December 2024

+ 2.4 %

November 2024

+ 8.2 %

October 2024

+ 4.3 %

Where’s the Silver Lining? 
In light of affordability concerns and more choice for buyers, data suggest that some sellers are meeting buyers in the middle. This month, 18.0% of listings saw price reductions. Additionally, active listings were up 30.6% year-over-year, surpassing April 2020 levels, a notable pandemic-era benchmark.

The West (+41.7%) and South (+33.3%) led the way in active listings growth, while certain markets, including San Diego (+70.1%), San Jose (+67.6%), and Washington, D.C. (+69.3%) saw the biggest local gains.  Despite this, nationwide inventory still sits 16.3% below 2017–2019 norms, meaning buyers have more options but the market hasn’t fully recovered.

The full April 2025 monthly housing trends report with additional findings can be found here.

*Table 1: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Median Listing Price and Income

Metro Area

Median Listing
Price

Median Listing
Price YoY

Median
Listing Price
per Sq. Ft.
YoY

Median Listing
Price vs April
2019

Required
Income to
Afford 
Median Home

Required
Income vs
April 2019

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.

$412,470

-0.8 %

-1.3 %

26.9 %

$109,034

57.7 %

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas

$525,000

-5.9 %

-5.1 %

41.9 %

$138,781

76.3 %

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.

$392,688

11.5 %

4.0 %

19.0 %

$103,805

47.9 %

Birmingham, Ala.

$299,900

1.5 %

0.8 %

18.8 %

$79,277

47.6 %

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.

$878,000

0.9 %

1.6 %

46.4 %

$232,095

81.9 %

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, N.Y.

$280,000

-1.7 %

1.2 %

31.8 %

$74,017

63.8 %

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.

$439,500

4.0 %

1.0 %

25.6 %

$116,180

56.1 %

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.

$372,450

-4.4 %

-0.5 %

9.8 %

$98,455

36.4 %

Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

$347,725

-7.3 %

2.3 %

23.8 %

$91,919

53.8 %

Cleveland, Ohio

$267,450

7.0 %

8.5 %

34.5 %

$70,699

67.1 %

Columbus, Ohio

$377,450

-4.9 %

1.3 %

24.8 %

$99,777

55.1 %

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

$430,000

-4.4 %

-0.7 %

19.4 %

$113,668

48.4 %

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colo.

$599,450

-4.1 %

-1.1 %

14.5 %

$158,462

42.2 %

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich.

$253,575

1.4 %

1.8 %

1.3 %

$67,031

25.8 %

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Mich.

$397,000

-2.6 %

1.0 %

36.9 %

$104,945

70.2 %

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.

$453,675

6.8 %

7.0 %

49.7 %

$119,927

86.0 %

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas

$369,900

0.2 %

-0.6 %

14.7 %

$97,781

42.5 %

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, Ind.

$329,211

-3.4 %

-0.8 %

18.7 %

$87,025

47.4 %

Jacksonville, Fla.

$399,995

-4.8 %

-2.9 %

28.1 %

$105,737

59.2 %

Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.

$399,450

-5.3 %

0.5 %

23.9 %

$105,593

53.9 %

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, Nev.

$475,000

0.0 %

0.9 %

50.1 %

$125,564

86.5 %

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

$1,195,000

0.3 %

1.4 %

49.7 %

$315,892

86.0 %

Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

$324,950

-0.6 %

1.9 %

16.2 %

$85,899

44.4 %

Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.

$345,495

1.8 %

1.6 %

56.8 %

$91,330

94.8 %

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla.

$510,000

-5.6 %

-4.2 %

27.8 %

$134,816

58.8 %

Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.

$385,000

2.3 %

5.3 %

26.5 %

$101,773

57.1 %

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.

$447,400

-0.5 %

-0.2 %

20.4 %

$118,268

49.6 %

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.

$549,450

-4.0 %

-1.4 %

48.5 %

$145,244

84.6 %

New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.

$789,450

1.9 %

-2.3 %

36.3 %

$208,687

69.4 %

Oklahoma City, Okla.

$322,255

-2.3 %

0.4 %

27.4 %

$85,186

58.3 %

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.

$425,000

-3.4 %

-2.1 %

35.8 %

$112,347

68.7 %

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.

$375,000

1.4 %

2.7 %

36.4 %

$99,129

69.4 %

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.

$525,000

-2.2 %

-0.9 %

41.4 %

$138,781

75.7 %

Pittsburgh, Pa.

$243,724

0.5 %

1.6 %

33.2 %

$64,427

65.6 %

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.

$614,950

0.0 %

-0.5 %

29.2 %

$162,559

60.6 %

Providence-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.

$584,900

11.5 %

6.9 %

55.2 %

$154,615

92.8 %

Raleigh-Cary, N.C.

$451,245

-0.5 %

-0.3 %

22.0 %

$119,284

51.6 %

Richmond, Va.

$458,950

0.0 %

2.3 %

37.2 %

$121,321

70.5 %

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.

$602,500

0.4 %

0.3 %

46.8 %

$159,268

82.4 %

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, Calif.

$633,570

-2.5 %

-1.5 %

30.1 %

$167,481

61.7 %

San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas

$339,950

-1.3 %

-2.3 %

15.0 %

$89,864

42.9 %

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.

$979,500

-6.7 %

-3.0 %

39.5 %

$258,926

73.4 %

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.

$995,000

-3.1 %

-5.6 %

5.0 %

$263,023

30.5 %

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

$1,399,947

-4.6 %

-1.8 %

24.2 %

$370,069

54.3 %

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

$782,225

0.9 %

3.4 %

24.7 %

$206,777

54.9 %

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.

$294,900

0.2 %

-0.9 %

31.1 %

$77,955

62.9 %

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.

$410,000

-2.4 %

-2.3 %

46.5 %

$108,381

82.0 %

Tucson, Ariz.

$396,133

-3.2 %

-0.7 %

32.7 %

$104,716

64.9 %

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Va.-N.C.

$409,950

3.8 %

4.8 %

39.7 %

$108,368

73.6 %

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.

$622,983

-0.6 %

-2.9 %

28.1 %

$164,682

59.1 %

*Table 2: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Inventory, Days on Market and Price Reduction 

Metro Area

Active Listing
Count YoY

New Listing
Count YoY

Median Days
on Market

Median Days
on Market Y-Y
(Days)

Price–
Reduced
Share

Price-
Reduced
Share Y-Y
(Percentage
Points)

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga.

45.2 %

8.8 %

46

7

20.8 %

3.1 pp

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas

24.5 %

-0.6 %

44

2

25.9 %

1.2 pp

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md.

47.7 %

11.3 %

29

-7

13.4 %

1.4 pp

Birmingham, Ala.

18.2 %

-1.9 %

50

4

16.1 %

1.4 pp

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.-N.H.

25.7 %

20.1 %

25

1

12.1 %

1.7 pp

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, N.Y.

3.2 %

8.4 %

35

1

6.5 %

1.2 pp

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C.

53.0 %

17.9 %

42

5

21.1 %

4.2 pp

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.

11.4 %

1.9 %

33

-1

10.4 %

1.8 pp

Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.

24.0 %

9.6 %

34

3

13.2 %

2.5 pp

Cleveland, Ohio

21.0 %

3.6 %

38

-2

13.0 %

2.1 pp

Columbus, Ohio

37.9 %

7.5 %

31

6

18.8 %

3.6 pp

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

42.8 %

11.1 %

43

3

25.8 %

4.1 pp

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, Colo.

65.0 %

24.7 %

36

4

27.2 %

6.1 pp

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Mich.

16.7 %

10.6 %

37

-3

12.6 %

2.7 pp

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Mich.

15.4 %

-3.6 %

33

2

9.1 %

-0.3 pp

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn.

15.2 %

10.2 %

30

-1

6.7 %

1.1 pp

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas

33.9 %

10.7 %

44

1

19.2 %

1.1 pp

Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, Ind.

19.7 %

7.5 %

40

2

19.8 %

1.7 pp

Jacksonville, Fla.

35.2 %

0.4 %

57

7

27.6 %

2.7 pp

Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.

11.8 %

11.1 %

47

0

12.6 %

0.5 pp

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, Nev.

60.7 %

18.2 %

44

5

21.4 %

7.5 pp

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif.

54.6 %

8.3 %

44

5

14.3 %

5.6 pp

Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind.

22.9 %

10.5 %

39

-1

14.7 %

1.0 pp

Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark.

30.8 %

-7.6 %

56

8

20.6 %

0.4 pp

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla.

40.7 %

-1.0 %

72

8

20.1 %

1.2 pp

Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wis.

2.3 %

5.2 %

30

-1

8.7 %

1.8 pp

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.

8.9 %

8.4 %

33

-3

10.6 %

0.0 pp

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.

34.3 %

4.7 %

47

16

18.8 %

-0.5 pp

New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.

3.2 %

3.3 %

45

-1

7.6 %

0.6 pp

Oklahoma City, Okla.

30.0 %

-0.9 %

43

2

18.4 %

0.4 pp

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.

44.7 %

5.3 %

62

8

23.4 %

2.8 pp

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.

18.2 %

6.2 %

35

-5

12.6 %

1.2 pp

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.

33.3 %

22.9 %

52

-3

31.3 %

7.6 pp

Pittsburgh, Pa.

16.8 %

8.9 %

47

-5

15.7 %

2.4 pp

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.

30.6 %

8.2 %

44

5

23.3 %

2.5 pp

Providence-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.

33.9 %

10.2 %

29

0

8.2 %

1.5 pp

Raleigh-Cary, N.C.

58.2 %

16.2 %

43

5

20.1 %

6.6 pp

Richmond, Va.

20.6 %

12.9 %

36

-5

9.9 %

1.5 pp

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.

52.4 %

12.6 %

52

7

18.3 %

4.3 pp

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, Calif.

49.6 %

13.1 %

38

6

17.9 %

3.3 pp

San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas

20.1 %

9.5 %

58

4

25.6 %

2.4 pp

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, Calif.

70.1 %

14.4 %

37

4

17.8 %

5.9 pp

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.

42.6 %

5.5 %

33

6

13.4 %

4.1 pp

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

67.6 %

2.4 %

24

3

12.0 %

4.3 pp

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.

50.1 %

7.5 %

30

2

14.4 %

5.6 pp

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.

16.8 %

0.6 %

39

4

13.5 %

1.5 pp

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.

32.1 %

6.0 %

58

6

29.3 %

1.8 pp

Tucson, Ariz.

56.5 %

14.9 %

51

6

23.5 %

4.6 pp

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Va.-N.C.

32.1 %

9.4 %

35

3

16.0 %

2.2 pp

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Va.-Md.-W. Va.

69.3 %

16.1 %

25

-5

13.8 %

3.6 pp

Methodology
Realtor.com housing data as of April 2025. Listings include the active inventory of existing single-family homes and condos/townhomes/row homes/co-ops for the given level of geography on Realtor.com; new construction is excluded unless listed via an MLS that provides listing data to Realtor.com. Realtor.com data history goes back to July 2016. The 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB-202301) and Claritas 2025 estimates of household counts. With the release of its January 2025 housing trends report, Realtor.com® has restated data points for some previous months. As a result of these changes, some of the data released since January 2025 will not be directly comparable with previous data releases (files downloaded before January 2025) and Realtor.com® economics research reports.

About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media contact:  Asees Singh, press@realtor.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americans-need-to-earn-70-1-more-today-than-six-years-ago-to-afford-the-median-priced-home-302443374.html

SOURCE Realtor.com

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Crab2B Makes AsiaWorld-Expo Debut, Connecting Hong Kong’s Mobile Wholesalers with Global Buyers

Published

3 hours ago

on

October 18, 2026

By

HONG KONG, Oct. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crab2B, a pioneering B2B trading platform dedicated to mobile devices and digital products, will make its debut at the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion during the Global Sources Hong Kong Shows, opening at AsiaWorld-Expo on October 18, 2026.

Hong Kong has long been a major hub for electronics wholesale trade, but buyers still often rely on fragmented channels to identify suppliers. Crab2B was created to bridge this gap, bringing Hong Kong-based mobile and digital product wholesalers together on one dedicated B2B platform. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Crab2B combines the manufacturing strength of mainland China and the Greater Bay Area’s extensive supply chain capabilities with Hong Kong’s established global trading network. Together, these strengths enable Crab2B to simplify cross-border sourcing, connect buyers directly with suppliers and make international trade more accessible and efficient.

For its first appearance at a major industry trade show, Crab2B is bringing together more than 200 merchants already registered on the platform, marking a significant milestone in its development. The Crab2B booth is expected to attract electronics traders from Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Visitors will be able to discover the app’s capabilities through live demonstrations, register on the platform and connect directly with participating merchants to explore business opportunities.

A buyer who experienced the Crab2B app shared: “With Crab2B, we no longer have to search far and wide for reliable suppliers. The platform brings Hong Kong’s mobile phone wholesalers together in one place, giving us greater visibility into available products and sourcing opportunities. Whether I’m at my desk or on the move, I can find products and connect with suppliers whenever I need to. For businesses like ours that source across borders, that kind of access makes a real difference. It saves time, reduces transaction costs and helps us do business more efficiently.”

Crab2B CEO Luo Yaohong said, “We want to be pioneers in cross-border B2B trading for digital products, creating new opportunities for Hong Kong’s wholesale industry. As Hong Kong places greater emphasis on developing digital trade, we’re addressing a longstanding gap in the market with a dedicated digital platform that connects Hong Kong’s electronics suppliers directly with buyers around the world. Our ambition is to make cross-border trading easier, faster and more accessible, while helping Hong Kong businesses reach new markets.”

The platform’s trade show debut is also attracting attention from international merchants, with exhibitors expressing interest in joining Crab2B to expand their reach into overseas markets. Meanwhile, merchants already registered on the platform are looking forward to the launch of its planned online marketplace, which will create further opportunities for sustained collaboration and business growth.

Building on this debut, Crab2B will remain firmly rooted in Hong Kong while expanding its connections with businesses around the world. The company will continue to enhance its platform with smarter sourcing tools, more comprehensive trading capabilities and an increasingly connected network of suppliers and buyers. By making it easier to discover products, establish business relationships and conduct cross-border transactions, Crab2B aims to open new opportunities for merchants of all sizes and help shape the next chapter of Hong Kong’s digital trade industry.

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SOURCE Crab2B

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Canton Fair Buyers Alliance Launched as the 140th Edition Opens

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7 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 15, the Canton Fair Buyers Alliance was officially launched at the Canton Fair Complex, marking a significant milestone as the fair celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding.

More than 140 overseas buyers attended the launch ceremony, highlighting the fair’s enduring role as a bridge connecting global commerce with China’s export sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Luís Vilariça, CEO of Joinco, Import & Export, Ltd., discussed his company’s long-standing relationship with the Canton Fair. Drawing on years of participation, he reflected on the growth opportunities created through cooperation with Chinese suppliers and highlighted the fair’s role in supporting international business development and global trade exchanges.

The ceremony also featured a joint declaration by alliance members. Representatives from five member companies read the statement in their respective native languages, underscoring the international character of the new organization. Additional members sent video congratulatory messages, joining the celebration and witnessing the official launch of the alliance.

The Canton Fair Buyers Alliance represents one of the fair’s key service innovations. Designed primarily for Fortune Global 500 companies, buyers from the world’s top 250 retailers and leading sourcing enterprises across a diverse range of markets, the alliance aims to offer members a platform for information sharing and resource coordination. The first cohort of alliance members includes 58 companies from 32 countries and regions across 5 continents. Through the alliance, members will gain access to a range of priority benefits spanning four major areas: services, events, resources and information.

 For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:

https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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Technology

Bioethanol from human hair – Indian start-up’s solution to rising prices of grains and sugar

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8 hours ago

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October 18, 2026

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GUJARAT, India, Oct. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In what could be called the beginning of the 5G (fifth-generation) of bioethanol or non-cellulosic bioethanol or non-sugar-based biofuels, an Indian start-up, Techofest Global, based out of Gujarat, has developed its own, indigenous, and patented technology for the production of bioethanol from waste human hair. Such processes would significantly reduce the employment of sugars, grains, and agricultural residues, which form the classical first- and second-generation bioethanol feedstocks. As a result, the rising fuel-vs.-food/fodder debate is anticipated to reduce, and instead, ethanol produced from municipal/industrial waste, after trials, can supplement the current supply being used as blends with presently retailed fossil fuels (E20, E27, etc.). 

As stated by Dr. Ravi, the founder-CEO of Techofest Global, the strategic priority and the USP of the start-up is industrial symbiosis, which, typically, involves an ecosystem of up-cycling/valorising the effluents of an industry, thereby creating a value-chain for residues often lacking an end-of-life. With more than three decades of experience in designing customized nuclear fusion reactors for international programmes, such as ITER, JET/UKAEA and SST-1, Dr. Ravi, a seasoned mechanical engineer, spearheads the start-up’s patented technologies’ scale-up and commercialization.

Two biochemical engineers, Dr. Navnit – the former CTO, and Dr. Kabilan – the former CEO of Biomakerz, Chennai, are the brains behind the current technology/process portfolio of the joint-venture between Techofest Global and Biomakerz. They have been working on biorefineries’ process intensification for more than a decade. “Having foreseen the fuel-vs-fodder/food competition as early as the year 2015, we began developing techno-economically feasible and viable in-vitro metabolically-engineered bioprocesses for scaling-up ethanol production from municipal waste streams between 2019–2021”, says Navnit. After developing operational technologies for international biofuel organizations, serving process engineer roles with certain biorefineries-related OMC R&D’s of India, Dr. Navnit, presently works for a premier academic institution.

An on-going fermentation trial at the Techofest Global-Biomakerz JV’s R&D facility

Techofest Global has developed and tested, in its R&D JV’s pilot-facility of ~100-L, 3 innovative and cost-effective technologies, such as 5G ethanol production using human hair, used cooking oil (UCO), and enriched bio-methane production from disposed sanitary napkins.

“With massive CapEx and OpEx, 2G ethanol technology is facing a major commercialization bottleneck, owing to competition with food/livestock fodder, requirement of a cost-intensive pre-treatment procedure, and the requirement of cellulolytic cocktails, which have a poor recycle efficiency. The proprietary 5G SAFE process developed for the start-up circumvents the mentioned constraints, and instead, utilizes a single-stage saccharification followed by fermentation, and records over 85–90% biocatalyst recovery. Likewise, the proprietary SIM process for bio-methane production, exclusively developed for the start-up, is 2x faster with improved intermittent feeding cycles and continuous gas harvest”, says Navnit.

“With on-going pre-commercialization trials, the proprietary ethanol and bio-methane processes of ours are soon being commercialized”, says Ms. Bhumika, the co-founder and the corporate advisor of the start-up. Furthermore, Mr. Ronak pilots the organization’s global market entry and commercialization frontier.

Techofest Global’s veteran Principal Technology Advisors include: Dr VS Tripathi, former Joint Director, DRDE Gwalior, Dr B S Munjal, former Director, Structures and Thermal group, SAC/ISRO, Academician and Advisor CIKS-Dharohar, GTU, and Dr AV Santhanababu, former Scientist at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. With on-going R&D activities, Dr. Munjal says, “the start-up is striving to provide a unique solution along the lines of the Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat Vision 2047”.

Media Contact: www.techofestglobal.com; e-mail: info@techofestglobal.com; contact person: The PR team of Techofest Global.

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