Students of the Renewable Energy and Biotechnology Unit (REBU) in Madinah’s Taibah University have created a model of a biological incubator to produce antibiotics from bacteria using solar energy.
This invention is part of the science and advanced technology program organized by the university and supported by King Abdul Aziz & His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity.
Dr. Shaie Al-Qahtani, the program supervisor, said REBU is now working on various applications that make use of solar energy, adding there are ongoing pieces of research on manufacturing solar cells locally.
He was confident the quality of cells made by the students would be acceptable compared to cells from international labs.
He added: "This area of research is very important locally and internationally.
“It has economic, social, environmental and psychological impacts.
“We are aiming for big investments in this field especially with the whole world now seeking to invest in solar energy as a future source of power.”
Dr. Mohammad Ghanim, supervisor of REBU, said the Kingdom could be a pioneer in solar power using locally made solar cells.
The most important material for making solar cells is silicon, and the Kingdom has an abundance of it. Silicon can be taken from sand.
He also said students made an integrated photoelectric system made of solar cells.
They also invented a water filter using biotechnology and solar energy.
Taibah university students build biological incubator
