{
  "id": 10421274,
  "title": "Chinese scientists develop Sunflower-like AC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/chinese-scientists-develop-sunflower-like-ac",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-28T10:30:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/sunflower-like-ac-chinese-scientists-develop-a-cooling-system-that-follows-sun-and-provides-135-higher-cooling-during-hot-noon-heres-how-it-works/articleshow/134538883.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese researchers are experimenting with a system that moves a radiative-cooling surface to track the Sun's position in the sky, similar to how sunflowers move towards sunlight. However, the goal is to minimize heat absorption rather than capture solar energy. The experimental system, called dynamic sky view factor steering (DSVFS), reportedly achieved 135% higher cooling at midday compared to a flat surface kept stationary. Radiative cooling works by allowing a specially engineered surface to release heat as infrared radiation through the sky, which is more energy-efficient than conventional air conditioning methods. A major challenge is that daylight can interfere with the cooling process as it adds heat to the surface. To tackle this, the Chinese team changed the angle of the cooling surface using a sensor and a two-axis mechanism that adjusts based on the Sun's movement. During periods of strong direct sunlight, the emitter is positioned to reduce solar energy exposure. However, this comes with a trade-off as the tilted surface loses some sky view, which is crucial for radiative cooling. The researchers found a balance between these two factors, with a 30 W/m² surface reaching 71 W/m² when moving compared to 30 W/m² when stationary. The dynamically positioned emitter was also found to be about 1.1°C cooler than the fixed emitter at noon, and around 2.2°C cooler than the surrounding air. During the daytime, the dynamically steered surface remained about 0.8°C above ambient temperature, while being roughly 3°C below ambient temperature. The researchers also tested a black-painted aluminium plate with a solar absorptivity of 99.6%, which typically would struggle with daytime cooling. However, when using the DSVFS mechanism, the emitter remained 6.2°C below ambient during the day, and a striking 23.9°C cooler than a horizontally positioned black-paint surface at solar noon. This suggests that the benefit may not be solely dependent on the specialised cooling coating, but rather the dynamic adjustment of the surface's orientation. While the system follows the Sun's movement, it does not directly track it like a sunflower. Instead, the objective is to manage the relationship between the Sun and the sky by balancing solar exposure and radiative cooling efficiency. The researchers see potential applications beyond the laboratory, with computer simulations estimating summer cooling-energy savings of over 150 kWh/m² in many areas, with a maximum of about 200 kWh/m² in the locations studied.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Chinese scientists develop dynamic sky view factor steering (DSVFS) system.",
    "DSVFS achieves 135% higher cooling at midday compared to stationary surface.",
    "System balances solar exposure and radiative cooling efficiency."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}