Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, with profound effects on society, the environment and the economy. The need to move away from fossil fuels and inefficient energy systems is urgent. Although renewable energy is expanding rapidly, integrating it effectively into everyday life requires not only more efficient systems but also more adaptable solutions.
The ADAPTATION project addresses this challenge by exploring a new way to harvest and manage both solar and thermal energy. The project aims to develop a material-based platform that can adjust its performance to different climate conditions. Rather than relying on conventional semiconductor technology, ADAPTATION inspired by photosynthesis and terrestrial radiative cooling to develop a new class of functional materials that can harvest and regulate solar energy in a holistic and sustainable way. These materials are based on abundant, non-critical resources, helping to reduce Europe's dependency on fragile supply chains.
A key innovation of ADAPTATION lies in the ability to customise the material platform accordingly to the local climate and energy needs. Therefore, ADAPTATION technology can be designed to capture and convert as much solar energy as possible in regions where sunlight is limited. Meanwhile, in hot areas where sun radiation is high, the main challenge to managing high temperatures. ADAPTATION solution balances energy production with thermal control.
In the first year, the project has made significant progress in identifying and characterising these material platforms. This initial work will support the development of custom-designed devices in the coming years, contributing to more efficient, resilient and sustainable energy use across Europe.
