Nature-based materialsTropical coolingLocal economy
Local fiber.Global impact.
PRPB RISPRO research transforms Arenga pinnata fiber into four green systems for tropical buildings that are cooler, more energy-efficient, and more valuable to local communities.
Field validatedGorontalo · 2025
1.5—2.1°Cindoor temperature reduction
Research documentation · Type 36 test house
01 / Why this research matters
Cooling buildings.
Revitalizing a local value chain.
Gorontalo’s average maximum temperature reaches approximately 35°C. At the same time, the potential of more than 163,000 tapping-ready sugar palm trees has yet to generate optimal value for the region.
This research brings together materials physics, passive architecture, manufacturing engineering, policy, and community empowerment in one nature-based innovation ecosystem.
01 · Local biofiber02 · Passive cooling03 · Standardized production04 · Equitable downstreaming
02 / Innovation platform
Four systems.
One sustainable material.
Fiber mesh, ropes, and composite panels are engineered as modular systems for affordable homes, public buildings, and tropical urban spaces.
01TRL 9GCt
Green Curtain
Vertical sugar-palm fiber mesh serving as a climbing medium and solar-radiation barrier for building façades.
02TRL 9GCp
Green Canopy
A modular shade structure combining natural fiber mesh with productive vegetation for tropical transition spaces.
03TRL 9GR
Green Roof
A lightweight vegetated roof system that reduces solar exposure and indoor heat gain.
04TRL 3
GB
Green Board
A sugar-palm-fiber composite insulation panel tested with four matrix materials.
03 / Evidence and impact
From raw fiber
to adoption-ready systems.
The first year delivered all nine performance indicators. Technical evidence includes mechanical, thermal, air-quality, SEM—EDS, U-value, and real-building validation.
User validationBAPPEDA Provinsi Gorontalo · 2025
Spinning machine
±120 m/hour≤500 watts · >90% yield · one operatorProductivity
3—4 timeshigher than the manual methodThermal comfort
1.5—2.1°Cindoor temperature reduction in GC validationTechnology readiness
TRL 7—9for core tools, materials, and green systems04 / Innovation value chain
One integrated pathway from sugar-palm landscapes to building performance.
Local material
Arenga pinnata fiber from Gorontalo’s sugar-palm ecosystem
Mechanization
Standardized fiber separation, spinning, and mesh production
Engineering
GCt, GCp, GR, and Green Board composites
Validation
Laboratory and real-building tests under tropical conditions
Downstreaming
Standards, IP, training, and market partnerships
05 / From Gorontalo to global networks
Locally engineered.
Tested in real contexts.
Testing took place at a Type 36 house, BAPPEDA offices, and MAN Insan Cendekia, strengthened by green-curtain implementation experience in Japan.
06 / Roadmap 2025—2027
Three phases toward
a green industry.
2025 Completed
Momatoto
Establishing the foundation through engineering design, prototypes, early standards, laboratory and field validation, and IP protection.
- 9 indicators achieved at 100%
- 3 tools function to specification
- GCt, GCp, and GR reach TRL 9
2026 In progress
Optimization & adoption
Developing second-generation prototypes, durability testing, export standards, community training, and user-driven design.
- V2 prototypes and environmental tests
- Workshops and public outreach
- Publications and two further IP filings
2027 Goal
Scale-up
Moving to semi-industrial reproduction, certification, market validation, policy integration, and community-inclusive commercialization.
- Measured production and distribution
- National—global industry partnerships
- A sustainable business model
07 / Intellectual property & outputs
Knowledge ready to be
protected and shared.
01Mesin Pemintal Tali Ijuk Arenga pinnata dengan Mekanisme Penggerak Ganda dan Pemberat Dinamis
S00202506563Allowed for grant · 21 Aug 2026View official notice
02Alat Pembuat Jaring Ijuk
2025/S/02428Published
03Alat Pengurai Ijuk
2025/S/02500Published
04Jaring Ijuk
S00202509342Simple-patent application
Book
Erosion Control Blanket (ECB) Berbasis Serat IjukSustainable Tropical Soil-Conservation Technology Innovation
Completed · ISBN application in progress08 / Team & ecosystem
Collaboration across disciplines,
sectors, and countries.
A transdisciplinary program connecting materials science, geology, architecture, engineering, development policy, and community empowerment.
MJ
Principal investigator
Dr. rer.nat. Mohamad Jahja, M.Si.
Materials physics · Universitas Negeri Gorontalo
Dr. Ir. Sri Sutarni Arifin, M.Hut.
Research team member
Dr. Sc. Yayu Indriati Arifin, M.Si.
Research team member
Dr. Yuszda K. Salimi, M.Si.
Research team member
Abdi Gunawan Djafar, S.T., M.T.
Research team member
Mohamad Zubair Hippy, S.E., M.Si.
Research team member
A. Indra Wulan Sari Ramadani, S.Si., M.Si.
Research team member
Fajar Putra Mobiliu, S.Si.
Research team member
Lead partner & collaboration networkResearch · policy · industry · testing
09 / Let’s collaborateLet’s bring sugar-palm fiber
Let’s bring sugar-palm fiber
into the future of tropical buildings.
Open to field testing, standardization, licensing, manufacturing, policy development, and community-based impact expansion.
Visit Universitas Negeri Gorontalo