Abdulrahman Alharthi

Omani engineer who developed affordable renewable energy solutions for desert regions

Abdulrahman Alharthi (b. 1988) is an Omani innovator whose solar energy advancements are reshaping sustainable development in arid climates. Working with the Oman Ministry of Energy, he created the Desert Sun Array technology in 2016, a cost-effective solar panel system using sand-coated reflectors to boost efficiency by 40% in high-temperature environments. This breakthrough has enabled widespread solar adoption across the Arabian Peninsula.

His 2020 invention, the Solar Oasis modular system, combines solar panels with water purification units, providing clean energy and drinking water simultaneously. Deployed in Yemen's conflict zones through the UNICEF partnership, these units have provided services to over 150,000 people. Alharthi's NightStar storage batteries, developed with Saudi Aramco, use lithium-iron-phosphate technology to maintain 90% efficiency even after 5,000 cycles.

Founder of SolarHub Oman, he trains young engineers from Gulf countries through immersive desert labs. His 2022 TED Talk "Powering Deserts with Sun and Sand" (available on YouTube) has over 2 million views. Alharthi's work was featured in Nature Energy journal and earned him the 2021 Ashden Award for renewable innovation.

Current projects include a solar-powered seawater desalination system and a Green Hajj initiative to reduce carbon emissions during pilgrimage seasons. His book 《Solar Solutions for Arid Realities》 (2023) is required reading at Khalifa University. Alharthi's innovations have reduced energy costs by 60% in several GCC countries while creating over 2,000 green jobs.