Virtual Booth

PALM-COOL: ENHANCING SOLAR EFFICIENCY VIA OIL PALM WASTE HYDROGELS.
Arif Danial Zaharuddin, Muhammad Iqmal Nazmy Rusnizam, Ahmad Syakir Imran Mohd Shainuddin, Muhammad 
Haziq Ahmad Rushdi
Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
[email protected]

Abstract

High tropical temperatures significantly reduce solar panel efficiency, while conventional cooling methods remain costly and energy-intensive. To address this, PALM-COOL proposes an eco-friendly, passive cooling hydrogel synthesized from abundant Malaysian oil palm biomass waste.

The hydrogel absorbs atmospheric moisture overnight and slowly releases it through evaporative cooling under peak daytime sunlight, naturally lowering panel operating temperatures without consuming electricity. By upcycling agricultural waste into a thermal management solution, PALM-COOL improves solar power output, lowers cooling costs, and reduces waste—offering a highly sustainable, circular economy approach to optimizing renewable energy in tropical climates