In a major scientific development aimed at tackling rising global heat researchers in Saudi Arabia have created a new cooling system that works without electricity, using salt and solar energy.
The project has been developed at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and is being seen as a possible low-cost solution for future cooling needs.
With temperatures increasing worldwide and heatwaves becoming more frequent demand for air conditioning is rising quickly. At the same time this has increased pressure on electricity systems in many countries.
Researchers also point out that more than 700 million people still do not have access to electricity which makes normal cooling systems impossible for them. Because of this scientists are looking for simple and affordable alternatives.
The system called NESCOD (No Electricity and Sustainable Cooling on Demand), does not use compressors, fans, or any electric power. Instead it works through a chemical reaction using ammonium nitrate, a material often found in fertilizers.
When ammonium nitrate mixes with water it naturally absorbs heat from its surroundings. This process creates a cooling effect. In tests researchers found that the temperature dropped from 25°C to around 3.6°C in just 20 minutes, showing strong cooling performance compared to other salt-based methods.
What makes the system more useful is that it can be reused again and again. After the cooling process, solar heat is used to evaporate the water. This allows the salt to turn back into crystals, making it ready for another cycle. In this way, the system keeps working without electricity.
Scientists also say the evaporated water can be collected again through solar heating which helps avoid waste. Since ammonium nitrate is cheap, widely available, and easy to store, the system could be used in many hot and low-resource areas.
Researchers believe this technology could be helpful not just for home cooling, but also for storing food, cooling buildings, and protecting temperature-sensitive items in remote locations.
As global cooling needs continue to grow, experts say such systems may help reduce electricity use and cut carbon emissions. If produced on a large scale, this method could offer a practical way to handle extreme heat in the coming years.
