Saudi firms partner to launch geothermal cooling solutions
TAQA Geothermal and Strataphy form alliance to deploy ground-based cooling technologies across Saudi Arabia, aiming to cut electricity demand.
Key Takeaways
AISaudi Arabia’s TAQA Geothermal announced on Monday a strategic partnership with fellow Saudi firm Strataphy to roll out geothermal and ground-sourced cooling solutions across the Kingdom.
The alliance combines TAQA Geothermal’s project execution capabilities with Strataphy’s proprietary PrimeLoop geothermal cooling technology, according to renewable energy news outlet Renewables Now.
Reducing electricity demand
TAQA Geothermal—a joint venture established in 2023 between TAQA (Industrialization & Energy Services Company) and Iceland’s Reykjavik Geothermal—said that reducing electricity demand from cooling is key to improving energy efficiency and easing the burden on Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, as cooling accounts for nearly half of the country’s electricity consumption.
Mishari Al-Ayed, CEO of TAQA Geothermal, said: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in establishing geothermal cooling solutions in Saudi Arabia.”
PrimeLoop: From single sites to district scale
Strataphy CEO Dr. Ammar Alali said the PrimeLoop technology was “specifically designed for this purpose: commercial deployments that cut cooling electricity use by more than half, require no water, and operate reliably in the Kingdom’s climate.”
Alali added that TAQA Geothermal’s support would enable Strataphy to expand the technology from individual sites to district-scale projects across Saudi Arabia.
Strataphy, a Saudi startup based in Alkhobar, closed a $6 million seed funding round in November 2023 led by Outliers and Shorooq. Its clients and partners include NEOM, King Abdullah Economic City, and Tabreed Saudi Arabia.