22 January 2025
Researchers from Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University have developed a novel solar-powered system to address the challenges of agriculture in remote desert areas. The system combines water desalination, green hydrogen production, air conditioning, and electricity generation to support farming in regions with limited infrastructure, high energy needs, and scarce water resources.
Published in the journal Desalination, the study introduces a standalone freeze desalination and electrolysis system powered by bifacial photovoltaic (PV) panels. The system can produce freshwater, green hydrogen, electricity, and cooling, using brackish groundwater as its source. It includes energy recovery and storage features such as ice storage for air conditioning, fuel cells, and metal hydride canisters to ensure efficiency and operation during periods of low solar energy availability.
The system boasts impressive capabilities, including the daily production of 52.8 cubic metres of freshwater, 177 kg of hydrogen, 6.3 MWh of cooling, and 2.4 MWh of electricity. Powered by 10,785 square metres of bifacial PV panels operating at 23.2% efficiency, it allocates 100 kW of power directly to farmers while storing surplus energy for night-time use. By efficiently integrating solar energy, desalination, and hydrogen storage, this innovative system offers a sustainable solution for supporting agriculture in harsh desert environments.
