Development of a sustainable solid-state barocaloric cooler

Stage: Round 4

The proposed research project is aimed at developing an affordable energy-efficient solid-state cooler that is based on caloric materials. Switching to such affordable efficient cooling technology would reduce the power consumption that is required for refrigeration and air-conditioning, which is rapidly increasing in low-income and lower-middle-income developing countries and would obviate the need for greenhouse gases. This would ease the looming energy crisis, help protect the environment, and promote the welfare and economic development of a large number of developing countries, for example by permitting setting up widespread cold chains for perishable foodstuffs, or vaccines.