KAUST Deep-Tech Spinout · Saudi Arabia

Cut Your Greenhouse Cooling Costs by Up to 70%

Tadweer Solutions turns locally sourced construction rock into a natural cooling system — no water, no complex machinery, and a payback period of just over a year.

Get a Free Estimate See how it works

70–80%

Lower cost vs AC

0 L

Water consumed

1.2 yr

Payback period

100 yr

System lifespan

The Challenge

Growing food in extreme heat is getting harder.

Greenhouse owners across Saudi Arabia face the same three problems every season — and solving one often makes the other two worse. Until now.

SAR 10K+^/yr

Cooling Bills That Eat Your Profits

AC for a greenhouse costs tens of thousands of SAR every year — and prices keep rising with every hot season.

1.6 m³^/MWh

Evaporative Cooling Uses Too Much Water

Evaporative systems consume up to 1.6 m³ of water per MWh of cooling — a serious cost in a water-scarce region.

15–20^yrs

Equipment That Breaks Down Too Soon

AC compressors last 15–20 years at best. Evaporative pads need constant replacement. Maintenance costs drain every season's profit.

The Solution

A 100-year thermal battery.

Construction rock is piled into an insulated mound. By night, cold desert air chills the rock mass. By day, a single fan pulls hot air through cold rock and it comes out 15–20°C cooler. The desert’s own temperature swing does all the work.

No water

vs evaporative cooling

No refrigerants

zero F-gas risk

Few moving parts

fans

Locally sourced rock

within ~40 km

How It Compares

Outclasses every cooling option.

The same cooling load, three technologies. Thermal-rock cooling wins on cost, water, emissions and lifespan, by orders of magnitude.

Per MWh of cooling

Thermal-Rock Cooling

Tadweer TRC

Evaporative

Pad-and-fan system

Compressor AC

Conventional

Efficiency (COP)

Cost of cooling ($/MWh)

6–10

20–40

35–50

Build cost (SAR/m²)

400–600

300

3,000+

Water (m³/MWh)

Zero

1.6

Zero

CO₂ (kg/MWh)

5–15

80–120

450–700

Lifespan (years)

100

10–15

15–20

Moving parts

Fans

Pumps + pads

Compressor

Our Story

Born at KAUST. Built for Saudi Arabia.

Tadweer Solutions was founded by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). We saw two problems hiding in plain sight: greenhouses struggling to stay cool, and mountains of construction rock sitting unused near every city.

Our technology turns that locally sourced rock into a long-lasting cooling system. Our pilot in Shaqra has proven the concept — 500 tons of rock across 200 m², payback in just over a year. Now we're ready to scale.

500 tons of construction rock deployed in our Shaqra pilot
Formally approved by Shaqra municipality and ready to scale
Backed by KAUST research with proven, real-world results

Research partner

The Team

Built by KAUST scientists and engineers.

Founded out of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology — combining thermal-storage research and field engineering.

Kamal Msallati

Operations & Partnerships

Prof. Hylke Beck

Science & Strategy · KAUST

Dr. Julian Hunt

Technology & Innovation KAUST

Samer Almashharawi

Business Development KAUST

Ahmed Almashharawi

Construction & Project Delivery

FAQ

Common questions

Does it work year-round?

Yes — as long as the day-night temperature gap is at least 15 °C. During peak summer we combine the rock store with evaporative cooling.

How long does installation take?

A typical system for a 1 hectare greenhouse takes 1 month: earthworks for the rock mound, ducting and fans. No construction permits required.

What size greenhouse is it right for?

We have designed systems from 200 m² pilot plots up to 1 hectare commercial farms. The rock volume scales linearly with greenhouse size, and the economics improve at larger scales.

Do I need extra land for the rock mound?

The mound sits adjacent to the greenhouse — typically 10–15% of the greenhouse footprint. It can sit on the same plot or on adjacent land. We help you find the best placement during your free estimate.

How does payback compare to standard AC?

Our Shaqra pilot achieved payback in just over 12 months. A comparable AC system typically takes 5–8 years at current electricity prices. With a single fan as the only moving part, running costs stay minimal for decades.

Free Estimate

Get your free cooling estimate.

Tell us about your greenhouse and we'll send a tailored savings estimate — typically within 24 hours. No cost, no obligation.

A tailored estimate of your annual cooling savings
A free feasibility check for your site
A direct line to the KAUST engineering team