We’re proud to announce the establishment of a dual-functional, zero-carbon R&D platform for solar-driven cooling and desalination that has been designed and built here at KFUPM.

Led by Dr. Rached Ben Mansour (Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering) and Dr. Ridha Ben Mansour (Research Engineer III, IRC-Energy), with support from postdocs Dr. Ahmed Alsaman and Dr. Ehab Salah Ali Abedelaal, this innovative system has the potential to be:
✅ Fully solar-powered
✅ Built with eco-friendly materials
✅ Uses a harmless refrigerant
✅ Operates with zero noise

The platform provides both efficient cooling and freshwater production, supporting sustainable solutions for arid regions. Initial testing shows promising performance in cooling capacity and potable water output.
The team is now working to scale their patented desiccant materials and designs to further reduce energy use and enhance system efficiency.