In March 2026, the European Patent Office granted SMAY patent EP4695563 for the RCP-R-PV Airflow Regulator powered by perovskite cells.In March 2026, the European Patent Office granted SMAY patent EP4695563 for the RCP-R-PV Airflow Regulator powered by perovskite cells. We talk to Michał Cisowski, Technical Director responsible for, among other things, the Product Development Department, about the origins of the invention, the challenges of the project and the potential of perovskite technology.

Perovskites have for years been the subject of intensive research as a material with ground-breaking potential in the energy sector. What technological and business premises led to the application of this technology in an airflow regulator?

My first experience with perovskite technology took place at the PLGBC conference in 2021, where Olga Malinkiewicz presented the results and capabilities of the cells themselves. What caught my attention most at the time was the ability to generate voltage from reflected or artificial light — such as a light bulb. Additionally, due to their flexibility and low weight, the cells can be applied to any surface — curved, flat, etc. This opens up entirely new possibilities, because compared to classic, heavy silicon photovoltaic panels that require strong sunlight, perovskite cells can be applied directly to devices without adding load to the installation, enabling operation in conditions that previously seemed unachievable.

The idea of using these cells emerged during an analysis of needs and rising labour and material costs. Most installations do not require precise airflow monitoring — only its regulation and adjustment depending on changing conditions or room occupancy. Combining a CAV regulator with an actuator and a charging module, without the need for additional wiring, seemed to me at the time the most appropriate solution from a business and economic perspective.

Which properties of perovskite cells proved to be key from the perspective of this project? Do you see further, as yet untapped potential of this technology in ventilation applications?

The ability to operate indoors without access to sunlight is undoubtedly the most critical factor. Low weight comes second. I believe the potential of this technology and its possible applications are very broad, but they must be matched to the function of the device itself, its intended use and load. I cannot imagine applying this type of solution in safety-critical devices where continuous monitoring is essential, but in comfort ventilation, in terms of energy optimisation, there is still a great deal of untapped potential — though I would prefer not to reveal all the ideas just yet. The greatest potential, however, lies in the mindset and way of thinking, because the most value from this technology comes not from the technology itself, but from using it wisely.

With the currently popular loft trend in interior design — exposed installations and ceilings — the appropriate placement of devices with such potential makes it possible to eliminate kilometres of electrical wiring from a building, and with it the costs of installation, materials and the energy needed to produce and transport them.

Delivering a project of this kind requires simultaneously addressing many challenges — technological, material-related and structural. Which were the most difficult and how were they overcome?

The main challenges concerned the technology itself and its implementation into an existing solution, so there were relatively few structural challenges. The biggest challenge was proving that something as small as an A4-sized cell, under appropriate illumination, could generate enough energy to establish communication and control a device powered by 24V. Even internally, no one in the company believed it was possible — let alone convincing a partner.

We managed to obtain test cell samples that were not even tailored to our needs. We carried out analyses and measurements, and the calculations and assumptions indicated that there was a chance something could work. Cells were then designed and manufactured to our specifications, on which we continued our research and testing. The most difficult moment, however, came when our partner encountered internal problems and we found ourselves at a standstill — with no possibility of optimisation, no production capability and no way to continue research. Only perseverance and a consistent search for an alternative supplier allowed us to resume our work. We held numerous meetings in search of an alternative and ultimately reached a positive outcome, although changes in the characteristics and operating parameters of the cells require us to continue development work and optimise the solution.

How does the process of transforming a research concept into a patent-protected project work at SMAY? What criteria determine whether a given direction of research achieves the status of a formal R&D project?

Every concept goes through an initial review by the Product Development Department and the Research and Analysis Department, where it is assessed in terms of its merits and feasibility. If a concept is sound but for some reason risky or costly — as in this case — preliminary tests and research are carried out. At this stage, budget and scope approval is usually required, and the involvement of the originator in arguing the case and convincing management to proceed is often invaluable. In this instance, we initially assumed only a proof-of-concept scope, but the promising test results evolved into a prior art assessment covering patentability, market potential and cost calculations, ultimately leading to approval to continue — which set the entire project planning process in motion.

Every innovation process involves moments of uncertainty. Was there a stage during the development of the regulator at which the project’s completion was called into question — and what ultimately made it possible to continue?

As I mentioned earlier, after achieving the first positive results, it turned out that our supplier was experiencing internal problems and there was ultimately no possibility of continuing the development work. We also lacked production capabilities, which posed a critical threat to the entire project — without a cell supplier, the project seemed pointless. I held numerous meetings with various suppliers from around the world: from Israel, through Australia, to Canada. Unfortunately, most of them did not offer satisfactory technology or product quality. It was one of the most difficult stages of the project — on one hand we could see the potential and the possibility of obtaining patent protection, while on the other, from an R&D perspective, there was no technological means of execution.

At present, due to changes in the characteristics of the cells themselves, development work is still ongoing to adapt the charging module to the optimal operating point. We have also set ourselves very ambitious goals within the project — the assumptions provide for the ability to operate at illuminance levels below 500 lux. Our journey is not yet over, but I believe that every day brings us closer to the goal.

A regulator that autonomously harvests energy from its surroundings is a concept with significant market potential. How do you assess the prospects for standardisation of such solutions in modern construction?

I certainly see great opportunities for developing this technology in other devices. I am also aware that a great deal of work lies ahead in convincing designers and architects — it requires trust in a technology that is not permanently connected to a power supply. I believe perovskites can support broader areas of ventilation systems, contributing to a reduction in energy consumption across entire installations. The concept of standardisation, however, is a big claim. It requires work at the level of application guidelines, design requirements, legal regulations and so on — at the level of research institutions or legislation, which, as we know, does not always keep pace with technological development.

I am convinced that this technology will find wider application in construction. Possible uses are being discussed more and more frequently: bus shelter canopies generating electricity, blackout blinds, building facades. So far, however, no one has ventured to apply similar solutions in indoor conditions — we have.

Obtaining a European patent is a process requiring particular precision and rigorous documentation. What did this process teach you about the invention itself and its potential?

Obtaining a patent begins with a prior art search — an extremely laborious and time-consuming process, as it requires reviewing dozens or even hundreds of documents, and very often extends beyond patent databases alone. Once the application is filed, the patentability examination begins, along with responding to numerous observations from the examining authority during the search procedure. At this stage, I was repeatedly surprised by the solutions we were being compared to — which only underlines how significant this technology is. The entire process, spanning more than two years, reinforced my conviction that this is a solution with very high potential and that the direction of development is absolutely right. My description of the process is, of course, greatly simplified and does not reflect the complexity of all its aspects.

In addition, the questions from the patent attorney and the people consulted on the product made it possible to prepare an application that comprehensively describes the potential, claims and capabilities of the solution. The process also helped to identify areas requiring particular attention — issues that seemed marginal at first glance, previously overlooked in analyses, but which proved critical from the perspective of functional solutions.

If you were to explain the essence of this solution to someone outside the ventilation industry — how would you describe how the regulator works and what makes it significant?

The operating principle of the regulator itself is not the most critical aspect from a patent protection perspective, but it forms the core of the entire solution. The regulator maintains a constant volumetric airflow in the ventilation duct regardless of pressure changes in the installation caused by the operation of the air handling unit or changes in the position of other devices in the system — such as other regulators. Additionally, to optimise the operation of the entire ventilation system, the volumetric airflow should be reduced when a given space is unoccupied. This is achieved by changing the set value via the actuator. For this to happen, the actuator needs to be supplied with electrical power and controlled. The independent power supply module, powered by perovskite cells, allows the set point to be changed without the need to run electrical cables. Communication of control signals is handled wirelessly via the control module. The entire ventilation system retains its full functionality, but without the costs of wiring, labour and independent power supply. And throughout its entire lifecycle and operation, it consumes no electricity from the grid.

It is well known that reducing the capacity of a ventilation installation at night or when rooms are unoccupied translates into a significant reduction in building operating costs. One might say that it is enough to reduce capacity or switch off the air handling unit — but that would leave the building without proper ventilation, which is equally undesirable. Without adjusting the set values on individual airflow regulators, air will take the path of least resistance and will not reach all rooms in the required quantities.

In summary, by using airflow regulators powered by perovskite cells, we can adjust capacity without incurring additional installation, material and labour costs — primarily wiring and electrical installation — which will accelerate project delivery and reduce both capital and operating costs, while additionally reducing CO₂ emissions.