UAE partners with US company to run cloud-seeding tests: The UAE has launched a month-long campaign in partnership with US-based cloud physics experts Stratton Park Engineering Company to gather crucial data for its cloud-seeding initiative Cloudix, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science said. “A group of researchers and pilots will cross-examine the performance of different cloud seeding materials with and without electric charges,” UAE’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM) explained to the National. 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, the news outlet said.

How do they do it? Cloud seeding tries to make it rain or snow by putting substances that help water molecules stick together (like silver iodide) into clouds — 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.

The UAE ♥️ cloud-seeding: In 2015, the UAE set up a research center to support new tech developments in the field. The center has funded 11 projects, including one focused on the use of nanotechnology to develop cloud seeding materials.

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A bid by the Saudis for lithium metal tech: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Capital Group has announced an undisclosed investment in Boston-based Pure Lithium to establish a supply chain in the Gulf country for its battery made of lithium metal (Li-M) technology, according to a statement. 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.

About the tech: 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.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Trina Solar supplies solar panels KSA desalination plant: China’s Trina Solar has supplied the 45.5 MW solar station powering the Jubail 3A water desalination plant with Vertex N 605W solar modules. The modules have a capacity of more than 700 watts, as opposed to the average 250 to 400 watts. (Statement)
• Lucid slashes EV prices in Saudi Arabia: KSA’s Public Investment Fund-backed EV maker Lucid has lowered the selling prices of its electric vehicles in Saudi Arabia by 9% to 11% on the back of price adjustments in global sales prices. (Asharq Al Awsat)