Figure Innovative Solution Combining the Technologies of Desiccant based  Sorption Heat Pump, Solar Thermal Energy Utilization, and Radiative Cooling for Air Conditioning and Atmospheric Water Harvesting in Hot and Arid Regions.

The innovation team of Prof. Ruzhu Wang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has made significant progress in the field of sustainable refrigeration, air conditioning, and atmospheric water harvesting in arid regions, which is under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Numbers: 52150410421, 51521004). Their research findings have been published in the prestigious journal Science, with the title "Sustainable cooling with water generation." The access link is at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add1795.

Based on the reports, refrigeration and air conditioning systems have become one of the largest electricity consumers worldwide, accounting for 10% of global electricity demand. Moreover, two-thirds of the global population is currently grappling with varying degrees of water scarcity, and this number continues to grow at an alarming rate, posing a significant threat to sustainable human development. Furthermore, the high latent heat of vapor condensation (2300 kJ/kg) makes condensation-based water harvesting an energy-intensive process, particularly challenging in low-humidity arid climates. Importantly, the overlapping and interdependent demands for cooling and freshwater supply in hot and arid regions create new requirements for energy and water resource management.

To address these issues, Prof. Ruzhu Wang leads his postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Primož Poredoš, have expanded the frontiers of existing refrigeration and cooling technologies. They have proposed an integrated design that combines adsorption-based atmosphere water harvesting, heat pumps, and radiant cooling techniques to regulate the water-energy thermodynamic processes. This innovative approach aims to achieve sustainable cooling and freshwater collection in hot and arid regions, providing a solution to the challenges of temperature and humidity control, as well as freshwater supply in drought-prone areas. By following this technological pathway, it is possible to harness the moisture in the air, leading to reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint in both air conditioning and water supply processes.

This achievement can be applied to various fields, including building energy efficiency, industrial production, and agricultural production, providing support for the sustainable development of various industries.