Shree Priya Thakur | 4 August 2024

Summary

• Elastocalorics - materials that absorb or release heat during phase transformations induced by stress - are an emerging technology due to current industrialisation trends, highlighting the strong need for sustainable cooling solutions.

• Traditional cooling systems release hazardous refrigerants into the environment and are less efficient than Elastocalorics, which use shape memory alloys, eliminating the risk of releasing harmful substances.

• The U.S. Department of Energy and the European Commission have endorsed this technology, highlighting a global focus on cooling technologies.

In early 2023, the IPCC predicted a 50% chance of a 1.5C rise in temperature by mid-2030s. However, its latest analysis indicates that this could be reached as early as 2029 with the current pace of industrialisation. In this context, it is no surprise that the World Economic Forum has featured Elastocalorics as a top emerging technology, necessitating research and investment. 

Elastocaloric technology differs from conventional systems as it replaces a liquid refrigerant with metallic solids called shape memory alloys such as nickel-titanium. Under mechanical pressure (compression and expansion), these alloys absorb and release heat, eliminating the need for any harmful substances to be released into the environment. Conventional cooling systems, in contrast, run the risk of releasing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), among other refrigerants possessing a high global warming potential. Further, Elastocalorics reign ahead in efficiency. Where conventional air conditioners achieve an efficiency range of 5-6, early demonstrators of Elastocalorics have shown the potential of exceeding the range of 30. 

As global temperatures continue to rise, the demand for efficient and environmentally sound cooling technologies emerges, particularly for countries in the tropics. Traditional air conditioning systems are based on vapour compression, i.e., using a refrigerant that changes its state from liquid to vapour as it circulates the system; they are often proven inefficient and climatically hazardous. With projections that building air conditioning alone will account for 30% of global energy consumption in the next few years, Elastocalorics emerged as a ground-breaking technology to provide scalable and affordable cooling. 

For this reason, Elastocalorics has been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the European Commission, reflecting global interest in finding sustainable alternatives to mitigate and adapt to global warming. Despite its recognition in academia and government policies, Elastocalorics are still in the early stages of development, requiring greater investment and skillset. Yet, the ability of this technology to provide efficient temperature regulation without releasing harmful refrigerants presents an untapped potential to develop solutions for curbing the environmental footprint. 

Forecast

• Short-term

  • Industry-led investment will likely initially reach Elastocalorics in its experimental stage before a matured product can be launched for residential and commercial sectors. As there is an indication of regulatory support, future policies may include incentives for adopting green technologies and a possible carbon tax on cooling systems releasing refrigerants. 

• Medium-term

  • As shape memory alloys are elemental to this technology, it is likely that Elastocalorics will further encourage the current race to secure critical minerals. Additionally, research into shape memory alloys has high initial costs, limiting this exploration to select countries and institutions.