Solar Thermal Technology and Low Energy Architecture

INTRODUCTION

The researchers in the Solar Thermal Technology and Low Energy Architecture Group consists of engineers, architects, physicists and chemist collaborating in the field of  (a) advanced solar thermal systems and (b) zero and low energy architecture. The areas of interest in advanced solar thermal systems including solar cooling, solar detoxification, solar heat pump, solar assisted drying, and combined photovoltaic thermal or hybrid collector. In addition, the area of interest in low energy architecture are Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), innovative daylighting systems, zero energy homes, indoor air quality and ventilation, radiative cooling and thermal comfort.

The group has secured research funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Science, Techonology and Innovation, Yayasan FELDA, UNIDO, ISESCO and Jabatan Warisan. Over 200 research articles in journal and proceedings have been published and members of the group delivered keynotes and plenary speeches at national and international conferences on renewable energy.Moreover, members of the group have won several international awards for their academic contribution in solar energy. The group has 12 patents pending and 3 copyrights. A UKM-MTDC start-up company, PV&T Sdn Bhd has been setup for commercialization of its green technology products. The group has designed, fabricated and installed 15 commercial prototypes advanced solar thermal systems and an ultra-low energy house in the state of the art Green Technology Innovation Park located in the Bangi Campus.

Promoting solar energy technology to the communities has always been the passion of this group.  The group has installed solar drying systems for fish in Cambodia, Pontian and Terengganu as well as solar drying system for seaweeds in Sabah. The group has extensive international networking with other renewable energy research groups such as the National University of Singapore, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional, Kocaeli University Turkey, COMSATS, Pakistan and World Renewable Energy Network.

 

RESEARCH TEAM

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hafidz Ruslan, PhD (UKM) – GROUP LEADER
  • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Kamaruzzaman Sopian, PhD (Miami)
  • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Yusof Othman, PhD (Aston)
  • Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Ar. Dr. Elias @ Ilias Salleh, PhD (London)
  • Prof. Dr. Mohamad Yusof Sulaiman, PhD (London)
  • Prof. Dr. Sohif Mat, PhD (Malaya)
  • Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ahmed Alghoul, PhD (UPM)
  • Ar. Dr. Lim Chin Haw, PhD (UKM)
  • Dr. Chan Hoy Yen, PhD (Nottingham)
  • Dr. Nik Lukman Nik Ibrahim, PhD (Sydney)
  • Mazlan Mohd Tahir, MArch (Nova Scotia)

 

AWARDS (selected)

  • Gold, Malaysia Greentech Award 2012, Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water.
  • World Renewable Energy Network Pioneer Award, 11th World Renewable Energy Congress 2012 in Denver, Colorado, USA, 2012.

Solar 1         Solar 2

  • Silver, SIIF 2012 Korea – Portable and High Efficiency Solar Assisted Drying System for Marine and Agricultural Products
  •  Gold, ITEX 2012 Malaysia – Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials for Solar Desiccant Cooling System
  • Special Award (KIPA), INPEX 2008, Pittsburgh – Advanced Assisted Solar Heat Pump Dryer with Multifunctional Solar Collector
  • Bronze, INNOVA 2007, Belgium – Continuous Solar Assisted Drying Systems For Herbs
  • Gold, 33rd Salon International Des Inventions, 2005, Geneva- Solar Dehumidification System for Medicinal Herbs
  • Gold, PECIPTA 2011, Malaysia -Solar Assisted Chemical heat Pump Drying System for Agricultural Produce
  • Silver, PECIPTA 2011 – Inverted Air Foil Wind Driven Ventilation Tower
  • Silver, Malaysia Technology EXPO 2010 – Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal Solar Collectors