Polysiloxane Radiative Cooling Paints for the Decarbonisation of Cooling in the Built and Transport Environments (PolyCool)

室内空间的冷却是实现人们良好健康和福祉的基本手段，但也是与人类活动相关的最耗能和高污染的过程之一。统计数字是惊人的;空调（AC）和电风扇占当今世界建筑物总耗电量的约20%，并且每年贡献超过1.2 GT的CO2排放。同样，在炎热的日子里，AC可能占电动汽车电池使用量的40%。为了应对气候变化，加速向碳中和经济的过渡，欧盟的绿色协议的首要目标，能源效率和可持续的室内空间和车辆冷却技术是迫切需要的。PolyCool的首要目标是开发零能源投入，零排放（在使用过程中）辐射冷却涂料/油漆，这也是联合收割机成本效益和低维护的商业，工业和住宅建筑。经过适当的修改，该技术也将能够在汽车和更广泛的运输行业中部署。这项技术利用了寒冷宇宙的无限热容量，将其转化为地球上建筑环境和车辆发出的热辐射的取之不尽用之不竭的能量。最重要的是，它是完全被动的，不需要电动泵，风扇或冷却器来运行。PolyCool涂层将能够提供>100 W/m2的冷却功率，能够满足至少30%的典型住宅冷却需求。该项目的主要目标是：（一）开发一个大型原型（>20厘米x20厘米）。ii）在现场、不同地理位置和不同气候条件下对原型进行广泛测试。iii）巩固强大的知识产权地位，iv）制定商业化路线图，将PolyCool技术从实验室平台转化为市场。

Cooling of indoor spaces is a fundamental means to attain peoples' Good Health and Well Being, yet is one of the most energy intensive and highly polluting processes associated with human activity. The statistics are staggering; air-conditioners (AC) and electric fans account for ~20% of the total electricity consumed in buildings around the world today and contribute over 1.2 GT of CO2 emissions per year. Likewise, AC may be responsible for 40% of an electric vehicle's battery usage on a hot day. To combat climate change and accelerate the transition towards carbon neutral economies, paramount targets of EU's Green Deal, energy efficient and sustainable indoor space and vehicle cooling technologies are imminently required.PolyCool's overarching objective is to develop zero-energy input, zero-emissions (during usage) radiative cooling coatings/paints, which also combine cost efficacy and low-maintenance for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. With proper modifications, the technology will also be able to be deployed in the automotive and more broadly in the transportation industry as well. The proposed technology is leveraging the infinite heat capacity of the cold Universe, converting it in essence into an inexhaustible heatsink for the thermal radiation emitted by the built environment and vehicles on Earth. Crucially, it is completely passive and does not require electric pumps, fans or coolers to operate. PolyCool coatings will be able to provide a cooling power of >100 W/m2, able to cover at minimum 30% of a typical residency's cooling needs. The key objectives of this project are; i) Develop a large -scale prototype (>20 cm x 20 cm). ii) Perform extensive testing of the prototype in the field, in various geographical locations and under various climatic conditions. iii) Consolidate a strong intellectual property position and, iv) develop a commercialisation roadmap to translate PolyCool technology from the lab benchtop to the market.