New Eco-Friendly Cooling Tech to Replace Harmful Refrigerants | CNBC Indonesia
New Cooling Technology Offers Alternative to Harmful Refrigerants
Scientists have developed a new cooling technology that could replace harmful chemicals like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), commonly known as freon. The innovation, reported by CNBC Indonesia, centers on a novel approach to absorbing and transferring heat energy, moving away from traditional methods reliant on fluid-based heat exchange.
Conventional cooling systems typically use a liquid that absorbs heat and transforms into a gas, circulating through a closed system before condensing back into a liquid to repeat the process. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley, have been exploring a different mechanism – harnessing energy stored and released during phase changes in materials, similar to how ice melts and absorbs heat.
The team’s research focuses on finding ways to “melt” materials without raising the temperature. Their solution involves adding particles containing energy, known as ions. This process, analogous to using salt to prevent ice formation on roads in colder climates, is termed an ionocaloric cycle. “There hasn’t been a successful alternative solution that creates cold efficiently, is safe, and doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment. We think the ionocaloric cycle has potential,” stated Drew Lilley of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
In initial tests, the researchers utilized salts composed of iodine and sodium to melt ethylene carbonate, a liquid also used in lithium-ion batteries. This process offers the potential for both zero and even negative emissions, as the materials involved are not inherently polluting to produce. Experiments demonstrated a temperature change of up to 25 degrees Celsius with a charge of just 1 volt.
Current efforts are focused on developing a practical system for commercial application, including identifying the most effective “salts” for heat absorption. In 2025, researchers determined that nitrate-based salts were the most efficient for drawing heat from a space. Google has already taken steps to address refrigerant leaks and deploy cooling solutions that include natural refrigerants, purchasing 250,000 carbon credits to support HFC recovery and destruction in Indonesia, according to naturalrefrigerants.com.
The development of this technology comes as Indonesia continues to navigate economic and environmental challenges, including a planned relocation of its capital city from Jakarta. Recent trade discussions between the US and Indonesia, currently undergoing legal review with a potential signing as early as February 2026, as reported by CNBC, could potentially influence the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies like this new cooling system.