Parametric (2022-2025)

At the Metrology Research Institute, we're part of the European Partnership of Metrology (EPM) project PaRaMetriC. This project reshapes the measurement landscape of passive radiative cooling (PRC) technologies, making strides toward a more energy-efficient and sustainable future.

Project Overview

Coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (Italy) and led by Lorenzo Patelli, Project PaRaMetriC (21GRD03) set its course in October 2022 and is anticipated to conclude in September 2025.

Our Role

The Metrology Research Institute undertakes simulations and BRDF (bidirectional reflectance distribution function) measurements of reference samples within the visual and infrared range.

The Power of Passive Radiative Cooling

Approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to cooling buildings and environments. Passive Radiative Cooling (PRC) materials are capable of cooling to sub-ambient temperatures, even in direct sunlight. The potential benefits are remarkable, with the potential to slash cooling-related electricity consumption by up to 80%. These innovative materials radiate infrared at wavelengths that seamlessly pass through the atmosphere into space, bypassing the warming effect due to direct sunlight.

Unveiling the Challenge

The groundwork laid by the previous EMPIR project, EMIRIM, in enhancing hemispherical emissivity measurement techniques for reflective insulation products, led to a reference setup that the industry could use to evaluate product performance. However, the intricate structures of PRC materials render current industry standards inadequate. Furthermore, the absence of standardized testing methods for PRC properties and real-world performance assessment hampers progress.

For more information, please visit the project web page.