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Scaling up Daytime Radiative Cooling: The new low-cost kit FOR REAListic and repeatable characterization across all climates

Project description

Cooling the future to tackle rising energy use and emissions

By 2050, the need for cooling is expected to triple. In turn, this will double electricity consumption and significantly increase CO2 emissions. Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC), which cools surfaces by emitting heat into space without energy input, could cut global cooling demand by 24 %. However, new PDRC materials cannot be fully evaluated using current testing methods. A small, inexpensive lab testing kit that replicates actual climate conditions is presented by the ERC-funded FOR REAL project. The kit allows designers, manufacturers, and labs to conduct dependable, scalable performance evaluations. FOR REAL advances PDRC towards widespread adoption and strengthens Europe’s position as a leader in climate technology.

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.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC

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Host institution

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 150 000,00
Address
PIAZZA DELL UNIVERSITA 1
06123 Perugia
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Umbria Perugia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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Beneficiaries (1)

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