{"id":79317,"date":"2023-08-31T01:00:48","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T01:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2023\/08\/31\/the-uae-moves-forward-with-cloud-seeding-research-and-ksa-invests-in-lithium-metal-tech\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T01:00:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T01:00:48","slug":"the-uae-moves-forward-with-cloud-seeding-research-and-ksa-invests-in-lithium-metal-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2023\/08\/31\/the-uae-moves-forward-with-cloud-seeding-research-and-ksa-invests-in-lithium-metal-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"The UAE moves forward with cloud seeding research and KSA invests in lithium metal tech"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>UAE partners with US company to run cloud-seeding tests:<\/strong> The UAE has launched a month-long campaign in partnership with US-based cloud physics experts Stratton Park Engineering Company<\/a> to gather crucial data for its cloud-seeding initiative Cloudix, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science said<\/a>. \u201cA group of researchers and pilots will cross-examine the performance of different cloud seeding materials with and without electric charges,\u201d UAE\u2019s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) explained to the National<\/a>. NCM will use its cloud-seeding aircraft and Spec's own Learjet equipped with advanced instruments and sensors for gathering the needed data. The test flights began at Al Ain International Airport earlier this week and will continue until the end of September, covering airspace in the UAE and parts of Oman<\/a>, the news outlet said.<\/p>\n

How do they do it?<\/strong> Cloud seeding<\/a> tries to make it rain or snow by putting substances that help water molecules stick together (like silver iodide) into clouds \u2014 either by spraying it from a plane or shooting it up from earth. Programs in China and the US show precipitation can increase as much as 10-30% when it works.<\/p>\n

The UAE \u2665\ufe0f cloud-seeding:<\/strong> In 2015, the UAE set up a research center<\/a> to support new tech developments in the field. The center has funded<\/a> 11 projects, including one focused on the use of nanotechnology<\/a> to develop cloud seeding materials.<\/p>\n

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A bid by the Saudis for lithium metal tech:<\/strong> Saudi Arabia\u2019s Energy Capital Group<\/a> has announced an undisclosed investment in Boston-based Pure Lithium<\/a> to establish a supply chain in the Gulf country for its battery made of lithium metal (Li-M) technology, according to a statement<\/a>. The investment also explores the possibility of forming a JV between the two companies in the future, the statement notes, without providing details on the size of the investments being injected by Energy Capital.<\/p>\n

About the tech: <\/strong>The brine-to-battery tech extracts lithium from oilfield brine and produces a battery-ready lithium metal electrode in a less expensive and sustainable process. The entire battery can be made in only three days, compared to the longer 500-day process to manufacture lithium-ion, according to the company. It also eliminates the need for graphite, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and is lighter in weight while holding two to four times the energy density of the traditional Li-ion battery, the statement said.<\/p>\n

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