KAUST develops new cooling technology to improve efficiency and lifespan of solar panels
The new technology has the potential to cut down the maintenance cost of solar cells, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Results of the study, carried out in partnership with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, were published in the journal Materials Science and Engineering.
The study targeted the issues of commercial solar panels, which only convert around 20 percent of sunlight into electricity, while the remainder is absorbed as heat or reflected away. Other problems include high temperatures, which reduce the efficiency and performance of the cells, shortening their lifespan and demanding more frequent replacement.
This means that cooling is essential, yet traditional cooling systems such as fans and pumps consume electrical energy; passive cooling, on the other hand, requires no electricity.
Prof. Chiaochiang Gan, lead researcher at KAUST, explained that the nanomaterials used in the passive cooling process are thin substances that can be applied to multiple systems that demand cooling, such as solar cells and agricultural greenhouses, without affecting their performance.
He said that the study, conducted through the Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies, led to the creation of a material that absorbs moisture from the air at night and releases it during the day.
Covering solar cells with this material, when deployed in coastal areas of Saudi Arabia for weeks, helps keep them cool.
The passive cooling technology also helps reduce the cost of generating electricity from these cells by 18 percent.
Experiments were also conducted in cold and rainy regions of the US to test its effectiveness in different climate conditions; the results proved the technology effective in all environments.
Preliminary studies also show that other applications for the material include light-emitting devices, which typically suffer from reduced efficiency at higher temperatures.
Abdullah Al-Muqbil, researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics and Semiconductors, director of the Optics and Electronics Center of Excellence at KACST, and co-author of the study, noted that these findings also open up potential for application in lighting and laser technologies.
The research team at KAUST achieved a record-breaking performance in solar cell efficiency due to their specialized designs, showcasing the diverse expertise at the university, according to SPA.
The Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies is one of four research centers of excellence run by KAUST. It aims to support the Kingdom's national goals in fields such as artificial intelligence, food security, renewable energy and storage technologies and smart health.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
New scholarship program aims to put media students on fast track to the top
RIYADH: Officials on Wednesday announced the launch of a new scholarship program designed to prepare Saudi students for a first class-career in the media industry. Speaking at a press conference, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Media Scholarship Project, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education, would combine 'knowledge with empowerment.' The initiative, he said, was 'aimed at preparing male and female students for the job market by training them and sending them to the world's best universities and companies specializing in the media field.' Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said the growth in the number of Saudi students at top universities was evidence of the Kingdom's drive to develop its human capital and expand international education opportunities. The ministers also discussed the country's decision to return to a two-semester academic year and the introduction of an artificial intelligence curriculum. Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, AI studies will be introduced at all stages of education alongside a cybersecurity course for high school students. Responding to a question from Arab News, Al-Benyan said the 180-day semester 'meets the needs of the educational process' in Saudi Arabia. The decision was made following a 'comprehensive study that included input from all parties, starting with the students themselves, parents and teachers, as well as experts from within the ministry and other parties,' he said. The change comes four years after the introduction of a three-term system that aimed to extend study days, expand the curricula and make fuller use of educational resources. Al-Benyan said the National Center for Curriculum Development had produced 27 digital courses, reformulated 19 as interactive books and reviewed 50 others to support an advanced digital learning environment. He also highlighted the center's role in aligning curricula with national values and identity, and praised the National Institute for Professional Development for its work with teachers. 'There is a program that will detail the number of values, as well as their quality, and link them to the curriculum and classroom activities. And there will be, God willing, a clear plan from the National Center for Curriculum Development,' he said. Al-Benyan also announced the launch of 75 new construction projects, worth a combined SR920 million ($245.2 million), designed to enhance the nation's education infrastructure and outlined a number of other economic achievements 'Saudi Arabia's program to attract regional headquarters for global companies attracted more than 616 global companies in the first quarter of 2021, up from 120 in the previous quarter, exceeding the 2030 target of 500 companies,' he said. In the industrial sector, he said the number of factories had risen from 'about 7,200 to about 250,500,' while investment had increased from SR955 billion to SR1 trillion and non-oil exports had grown from SR150 billion to SR677 billion. The ministers were speaking at the latest in a series of quarterly ministerial press conferences designed to shed light on important issues and encourage transparency between officials and journalists, values that align with Vision 2030.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Tech company Humain to launch Allam, first Saudi-developed Arabic AI model
LONDON: A new Arabic-language artificial intelligence model called Allam, created and trained in Saudi Arabia, is set for launch this month, according to Tareq Amin, the CEO of the developer, tech company Humain. He said it was built by a team of 40 Ph.D.-level researchers in the Kingdom, and described it as the best Arabic-language model yet developed for the 350 million people worldwide who speak the language, the majority of whom live in Arab countries. 'This is not just another large language model, it's proof that the Arab world can innovate, train and deploy AI at a world-class level, according to our own standards,' Amin told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. Allam was designed to understand classical forms of Arabic and regional dialects, he added. It can converse in the Saudi, Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese dialects, and understands cultural and political nuances. The AI model will initially be available through Humain Chat, a free Arabic-language app similar to ChatGPT. Humain, which is part of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, said it has been tested for use in sensitive applications. 'ChatGPT will never have the datasets we do (to develop an Arabic AI),' Amin said. 'I want the Arab world to start asking: Why don't we build a coalition to create AI models that reflect our culture and values?' The PIF established Humain to lead the Kingdom's AI strategy, harnessing expertise from Aramco Digital and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority's National Center for AI. Amin said he views the launch of Allam as a starting point for ongoing improvement, fueled by user feedback from the Arab world. The company plans to create a marketplace through which developers and businesses can access the AI linguistic model, with a particular focus on government bodies and private-sector organizations in industries such as tourism and healthcare that rely heavily on Arabic for the provision of services. '(Allam) is the spark that can shift the Middle East's position in the global digital economy from consumer to creator of original platforms and products,' Amin said. 'We don't yet have a complete AI ecosystem of developers and companies. We need to believe in our abilities, and the time is now.' Amin considers AI as 'the foundation upon which the entire' Saudi Vision 2023 plan for national development and diversification is being built across various sectors including tourism, healthcare and industry. He praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's approach to AI as 'both visionary and pragmatic,' treating the technology 'not as an optional tool but as a necessity for economic growth, citizen empowerment and sector-wide adoption.' Amin added that Allam is Humain's flagship model and ultimately the success of the tech company will primarily stem from the people who are part of it, in particular the rich pool of Saudi AI talent. 'Some doubted whether we had the capabilities,' he said. 'I told them: come and see for yourself.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
SDAIA, Oxford University Partner on AI Engineering Camp to Empower Saudi Graduates
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has launched a new artificial intelligence application engineering camp in collaboration with Oxford University. The initiative aims to train Saudi and international graduates, equipping them with advanced skills in the rapidly evolving field of AI. The intensive eight-week program is open to bachelor's and master's degree holders in artificial intelligence, computer science, and related disciplines. Overseen by international experts, the curriculum will cover advanced AI sciences, computer vision, deep learning, and generative models, SPA reported. Participants will gain hands-on experience in designing and developing AI models using Python, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, and will work on advanced projects in natural language processing and computer vision. A key focus of the camp is on practical application. Graduates will learn to use industry-standard tools like YOLO and Hugging Face to create and deploy real-world technical solutions. The program adopts a flexible two-phase educational model, beginning with distance learning before transitioning to an in-person phase at Oxford University. This camp forms part of SDAIA's commitment to developing national capabilities and fostering partnerships with leading global universities. By equipping Saudi talent with modern AI tools and technologies, the program supports the Kingdom's digital transformation goals and the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.
