3rd Pilot Project
R&DSeawater Greenhouse

3rd Pilot Project

Muscat, Oman2004

The third pilot seawater greenhouse, completed in 2004 near Muscat in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University. A further 864 m² structure producing 0.3–0.6 m³ of fresh water per day and growing tomatoes in one of the world's most extreme coastal desert environments.

History

How It Began

Following the Abu Dhabi project, Seawater Greenhouse Ltd partnered with Sultan Qaboos University in Oman to build the third pilot near Muscat. This collaboration gave the technology a formal academic research dimension, enabling rigorous scientific validation of the thermodynamic simulation models. Oman's Batinah coast represented an important new geography — one with enormous agricultural potential if water constraints could be overcome.

How We Solve It

Our Solution

The 864 m² greenhouse deployed refined evaporative cooling panels and an improved condenser design, producing 0.3–0.6 m³ of freshwater per day through solar desalination. After several design modifications made during operation, the facility achieved consistent water production and successful tomato cultivation year-round. The project provided the opportunity to develop a sustainable horticultural sector on the Batinah coast.

Updates

Project Updates

The Muscat project delivered the data needed to validate Seawater Greenhouse Ltd's thermodynamic simulation model — a critical tool that now allows the team to accurately predict system performance in any location in the world given local meteorological data. This model underpins the design of every project that followed.

Funding

Sultan Qaboos University partnership

Partners

Seawater Greenhouse Ltd, Sultan Qaboos University