Abstract This paper describes the Sofri project, a co-operation between Ceeran Ltd and The Delft University of Technology. The main objective of this project is to develop the necessary knowledge and experience to commercialize solar-assisted air conditioning and dehumidification systems in the Dutch Caribbean. The project is motivated by the present needs of the Dutch Caribbean for renewable energy sources and the fact that the Caribbean has a high and uniform insolation throughout the year. Furthermore, hotels and offices in this area use more than 40% of their energy for airconditioning purposes. Therefore, solar-assisted air conditioning systems are a logic approach in reducing the energy demand and to lower the peak electricity demands for the local power station. Ceeran Ltd has the objective to reach full commercialisation of the proposed technologies in the Dutch Caribbean. The research is concentrated on liquid absorption machines and solar collection systems such as flat plates with selective surfaces, heat pipe evacuated tubes flat plate collectors, and Compound Parabolic Concentrators. The first demonstration unit is planned to be installed in an office building in Curaçao. The installation consists of a 35 kW LiBr/H 2 O absorption machine driven by 100 m 2 flat plate collectors with a gas backup system. The system will provide comfort air-conditioning for this these type of office buildings during daytime
