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BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena

The new green energy-saving application of photochromic-based dynamic solar control films for retrofit windows.

Alternative title: Ny grønn energisparende anvendelse av fotokrom-baserte solkontroll filmer for renovasjon av gamle vinduer.

Awarded: NOK 8.0 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

332289

Project Period:

2022 - 2024

Funding received from:

Organisation:

Current solar control or films reflects the infrared of the solar spectrum, which contains approx. half of the solar energy and reduces the energy in visible light by the use of different levels of tint. The level goes from slightly tinted to more or less blacked-out solutions. When first tinted, the level is static. Static solar control is not optimal in terms of energy reduction. Either the tinting is too low and too much energy enters the building, or the tinting is too strong, blocking the visible light too much, leading to excessive use of electricity for artificial lighting. Additionally, glare and hot spots and the limited view through blacked-out windows are unpleasant to us humans. The solution to this is dynamic solar control. Sunphade, a photochromic technology, only needs sunshine to work. When exposed to sun rays, the film darkens, and when the sun is gone, it bleaches back to a clear state. Sunphade is a new class of unorganic photochromic technology. It is produced with an industrial vacuum process. The production method is fast, and the raw material costs low, indicating that it can be mass-produced.

Current solar control or films reflects the infrared of the solar spectrum, which contains approx. half of the solar energy and reduces the energy in visible light by the use of different levels of tint. The level goes from slightly tinted to more or less blacked-out solutions. When first tinted, the level is static. Static solar control is not optimal in terms of energy reduction. Either the tinting is too low and too much energy enters the building, or the tinting is too strong, blocking the visible light too much, leading to excessive use of electricity for artificial lighting. Additionally, glare and hot spots and the limited view through blacked-out windows are unpleasant to us humans. The solution to this is dynamic solar control. Sunphade, a photochromic YHO technology, only needs sunshine to work. When exposed to sun rays, the film darkens, and when the sun is gone, it bleaches back to a clear state. Sunphade is a new class of unorganic photochromic technology. It is produced with an industrial vacuum process. The production method is fast, and the raw material costs low, indicating that it can be mass-produced. However, the main challenges related to the long-term durability and performance of YHO prepared on flexible substrates need to be solved. Due to a flexible substrate's nature, deposition of a metallic functional layer is prone to cracking and delamination. Another challenge is the long-term film adhesion property on a polysester substrate under constant environmental stress. Also, the growth conditions varying for different substrates influence the YOH film's functionality and need to be investigated for plastic substrates.

Funding scheme:

BIA-Brukerstyrt innovasjonsarena