With its proprietary technology to treat urban air quality, Siddharth Dixit’s Amida Cleantech eyes a big chunk of the Rs 8.2 lakh crore global market of air pollution control systems

By Arjun Yadav

October evenings in New Delhi signal a change. They are marked by a slight nip in the air that is filled with the heady scent of winter bloom, and the lit-up infrastructure spreads festive joy all over the city. But these evenings also signal the onset of a time when the air quality deteriorates sharply. This recurring phenomenon led the Supreme Court to infamously refer New Delhi as a “gas chamber” in 2019. The malaise, however, runs far and wide. IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2023 listed 42 Indian cities among the top 50 most polluted cities worldwide.

Companies have tried to capitalise on this opportunity in the last decade. The growth of the indoor air purifier market is a testament to this. The market size was estimated at $157.20 million in 2022 and is expected to increase to $1.16 billion (Rs 9,800 crore) in 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.51 per cent, per Renub Research.

The Outdoor Air Market

Looking to tap into the outdoor air market, a new generation of entrepreneurs is developing solutions to treat the outdoor air and depollute our cities. One such startup is Delhi-based Amida Cleantech, led by its founder and managing director, Siddharth Dixit, who sees a big opportunity in the outdoor clean-air market.

In the market since 2020, Amida Cleantech uses its proprietary nanoscience technology to break down air molecules into particulate matter and non-toxic dust. It then disposes of this dust and converts harmful gases into noble gases.

The technology’s success has led the company to foray into overseas markets such as France, Spain and the United Kingdom, with plans to enter the United States market as well. The solutions aim to work across multiple environments, including public spaces like metro stations, airports, bus shelters, and even indoor environments such as offices and residential complexes.

The global expansion plans are in sync with the market potential. The global market for air pollution control systems was estimated at $74 billion in 2020 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.8 per cent to reach $98.2 billion (Rs 8.2 lakh crore) by 2026, estimates a 2021 study by Global Industry Analysts (GIA).

Amida Cleantech’s Dixit attributes favourable government regulations for imparting impetus to the sector. “In recent years, the Indian government has taken significant steps, such as the Clean Air Mission and stricter regulations on pollution control for backup energy devices like diesel generators. These initiatives have opened up new market opportunities, especially in urban landscapes where air pollution is a major issue,” he says.

The sector at large is seeing heavy investor interest due to its alignment with global sustainability goals. Though Amida has been bootstrapped, it is open to raising external capital to support its growth ambitions.

Dixit feels that startups, with the right technology and vision, have an opportunity to make it possible for us to breathe cleaner air and create healthier cities for generations to come