Objective
As the global population keeps growing and the effects of global warming intensify with relevant health implications, the demand for cooling is expected to more than triple by 2050. This surge in demand will not only double electricity consumption but also significantly increase CO2 emissions. Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling (PDRC) is acknowledged as a promising solution for regulating the Earth’s energy budget. By cooling objects through radiative heat emission into space without energy consumption, it is expected to reduce global cooling demand by 24%, saving US$3 trillion in capital costs by 2050. Quantifying the cooling contribution of innovative PDRC materials-such as radiative exchange within the atmospheric window, photoluminescence, and durability-poses significant challenges that cannot be tackled by current testing methods (both in-lab and outdoor). Building on the foundational insights from the ERC-StG HELIOS, we address these challenges with a robust and scalable in-lab testing procedure able to evaluate the performance of PDRC, as in the outdoor realistic climate exposure conditions, ensuring reliability across diverse settings.By integrating the compact and cost-effective FOR REAL testing kit into standard climatic chambers with solar simulators, various end users-e.g. companies producing building envelope systems and urban pavements, public/private certification labs,R&D teams,building designers etc.-can obtain reliable and comparable performance data on PDRC materials.The introduction of the FOR REAL system in established characterization procedures will propel radiative cooling toward practical real-world applications while supporting informed decision-making across multiple sectors. Confirming the unique values through an intense validation campaign to reach TRL4 and paving the way to TRL5 with testing in the operational environment,FOR REAL reshapes PDRC role in urban heat mitigation and energy efficiency, positioning EU as an innovation leader.
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
06123 Perugia
Italy