Non-electric refrigeration research landed (Dr. Deng Shuming)

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This articleauthorDeng ShumingVisiting professor of Computer Science Department, Faculty of Engineering, Geography Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and School of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, and writes columns for Hong Kong Economic Journal“Kami Shingo”.

A study predicts that by 2070, the average annual temperature in Hong Kong will reach 26 degrees Celsius (24.5 degrees Celsius in 2023), and the weather will be very hot all year round. In the face of the heat, the most direct reaction is to use more air conditioners. However, most electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, which is the reason for the rise in temperature. Therefore, turning on the air conditioner to cool down is undoubtedly a poison to quench thirst. Therefore, the World Economic Forum has selected sustainable cooling solutions as one of the top ten emerging technologies to solve global challenges in 2024.

As the world strives to find alternative ways to cool down, I am pleased to see that local start-up i2Cool has developed a cooling solution that does not require electricity. I visited i2Cool’s base earlier and personally experienced the newly launched and patented zero-energy, no-electricity cooling products, including tiles, car paint, film and clothes. I witnessed that the temperature in the car and indoors was successfully reduced by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius. The results are amazing!

Local startup i2Cool has developed a cooling solution that does not require electricity. (Image from i2Cool’s official website)

i2Cool is a technology startup incubated by City University of Hong Kong. The team has been developing this revolutionary cooling technology since 2016, adding nanoparticles to different materials, such as paint, film, and fiber fabrics, to achieve cooling below ambient temperature through reflection of sunlight and passive radiation heat dissipation, effectively saving energy and promoting carbon neutrality. The inspiration for inventing this technology comes from the African silver ants in the Sahara Desert. The hair of silver ants can greatly reflect sunlight and dissipate heat to reduce heat absorption, allowing ants to survive and reproduce in high temperature environments of 60 to 70 degrees Celsius.

In Hong Kong, residents living on the top floors of subdivided flats are the group that suffers the most from the hot weather. Last year, the team worked with a charity foundation to paint the roof of a 50-year-old building in Sham Shui Po with white iPaint. It was reported that the indoor temperature dropped by 3 to 8 degrees Celsius, allowing residents to save about 40% of their electricity bills each month, and the cooling effect was still good after one year.

Last year, the team worked with a charity foundation to paint the roof of a 50-year-old building in Sham Shui Po with white cold paint, allowing residents to save about 40% of their electricity bills each month. (Photo from Chuangleng Technology’s official website)

Currently, this start-up has received support from many local government departments and public and private institutions, including public utilities, real estate development and property management companies. According to the company’s website, non-electric refrigeration products have been used in more than 20 countries and regions including China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States, mainly in the fields of construction, chemicals, power communications, new energy, logistics, outdoor storage equipment and photovoltaics. For example, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, some companies use these refrigeration coatings to cool containers, and the effect is also very significant. The external temperature is reduced by 30 degrees Celsius, which helps to keep the goods fresh while reducing electricity consumption.

The company is a successful example of the commercialization of local scientific research results. The co-founders include Hong Kong Polytechnic University Vice-President and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering Zhao Ruheng, CityU’s Associate Dean of the School of Energy and Environment Professor Cao Zhiyin, and CityU graduate Dr. Zhu Yihao.

I sincerely hope that this startup team can continue to work hard and come up with more innovative solutions for sustainable development in the world.