Industrias Kolmery launches paint R&D project to slash building energy use

A 24‑month research and development project backed by Spain’s CDTI and the EU’s FEDER programme aims to create two new paint formulations that cut heating and cooling demand in buildings. Led by the Spanish firm Industrias Kolmery in partnership with the University of Granada and Fundación Tecnalia, the effort will produce a passive‑cooling coating based on barite and quantum dots and an insulating paint incorporating silica aerogel. The goal is to markedly lower reliance on HVAC systems and extend coating lifespans.

At the same time, solar photovoltaic technology is seeing rapid advances worldwide. Innovations include artificial‑intelligence‑driven design, perovskite‑based cells with higher light absorption, and building‑integrated photovoltaics such as solar windows, tiles and roadways. Floating solar farms on reservoirs and extensive recycling programmes for panels are also expanding. Projects span from collaborative efforts in Spain to large‑scale installations in Saudi Arabia, positioning solar energy as a central driver of the global energy transition.