Arka Clean Technologies offers a solar-thermal air conditioning system for Indian households and businesses, where the demand and use of traditional energy-hungry air conditioning units is growing rapidly.
Arka’s innovation of combining solar energy with air conditioning systems reduces costs and energy intensity for air conditioning systems in India, in contrast to conventional cooling systems which are costly to operate and polluting. Air conditioning units are needed most when the sun is shining, which is the perfect time for solar thermal systems to be producing energy. Their design works without CFC refrigerants that can damage the ozone layer, making the product a safer alternative to traditional air conditioning units. Instead, solar energy is harnessed to produce evaporative cooling, instead of electric compressors which are commonly used.
Relatively few moving parts are used in the system, meaning they require little maintenance, keeping costs low for clients and homeowners, and the company estimates that their solar air conditioning technology has a payback time of three years.
Why you should care
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that by 2100, the need for electricity to power cooling will have surged to more than 30 times what it was in 2000, creating additional emissions if electricity generation has not decarbonised. Solar thermal cooling technology can offer alternative solutions if properly financed and implemented at scale, particularly in countries such as India where Arka Clean Technologies is based.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Affordable and Clean Energy
Solar-thermal chillers use 30–90% less electricity than conventional air conditioners, depending on the type and size of the installation.