Green-Gold in Supercapattery: Turning Pineapple waste and Natural rubber into Future of Energy Storage
The Escalating Energy Demand and the Climate Crisis
The global demand for energy has increased dramatically over the past few decades, driven by population growth, urbanization, and rapid technological development. Much of this demand is still met by fossil fuels, placing enormous pressure on natural resources and the environment. Fossil fuels remain the largest contributor to climate change, accounting for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nearly 90% of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Reducing these emissions is essential for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and meeting the global commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, as emphasized in the Paris Agreement signed by countries worldwide. In response, researchers and innovators are accelerating the development of cleaner and more sustainable energy technologies. Renewable energy sources possess enormous potential, capable of supplying far more than current global energy demand, and their contribution to global electricity production continues to rise.
The Renewable Energy Transition and the Intermittency Bottleneck
However, the transition from conventional fossil-based systems to renewables is still not fast or efficient enough to meet long-term climate targets. A critical challenge lies not only in harvesting renewable energy, but also in storing it effectively for reliable and continuous use.
Solar energy stands out as one of the most promising renewable sources because it is clean, abundant, and widely accessible. Photovoltaic technologies enable the conversion of sunlight into electricity, yet solar power is inherently intermittent due to weather fluctuations and day & night cycles. Consequently, efficient energy storage systems are crucial to ensure a stable and dependable power supply. This is where innovations in integrated energy generation and storage become vital.
Introducing the Supercapattery: Bridging Density and Speed
Supercapatteries present a forward-looking solution to this challenge. A supercapattery is a hybrid energy storage device that combines the high energy density of batteries with the high power density and rapid charge, discharge capability of supercapacitors.
This integration enables both long-term energy storage and fast power delivery within a single system, making it particularly suitable for electric mobility and portable electronics.
Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy Valorization
Beyond performance, the novelty of this approach lies in its sustainability. Our proposed system emphasizes the use of naturally available and regionally abundant resources, including natural rubber-based electrolytes, plant-derived dyes, and biomass-derived hard carbon electrodes produced from agricultural waste such as pineapple peels, palm residues, and other lignocellulosic by-products.
Converting these low-value wastes into high-performance carbon materials not only reduces fabrication costs and dependence on fossil-derived precursors but also promotes waste valorization and supports circular economy practices. This strategy transforms agricultural waste into functional energy materials, lowering the overall environmental footprint of device manufacturing.
Real-World Mobility, Grid Resilience, and Future Outlook
When implemented in electric vehicles, supercapatteries can reduce dependence on extensive charging infrastructure by enabling faster charging, efficient energy management, and improved durability. They can effectively capture regenerative braking energy and support vehicle-to-grid (V2G) energy transfer, where excess stored energy is supplied back to the grid, creating a more interactive and resilient energy ecosystem.
While solar-powered residential systems have already demonstrated significant GHG reductions, extending integrated generation–storage concepts to transportation and smart devices can further accelerate decarbonization. Supercapattery technology therefore represents a practical bridge between renewable energy harvesting and real-world mobility needs. By combining sustainability, performance, and scalability, it offers a compelling pathway toward cleaner transport, reduced emissions, and a smarter energy future. In essence, the supercapattery is not merely an incremental improvement in storage technology, but a vision for powering tomorrow’s mobility and electronics in a faster, greener, and more sustainable way.
SDGs Addressed:
 | Through overcoming solar intermittency with advanced energy storage to ensure a reliable clean power supply.
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 | Through pioneering hybrid supercapattery technology and developing resilient vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems. |
 | Through advancing cleaner electric mobility and decentralized solar storage to reduce urban emissions. |
 | Through valorizing agricultural waste into high-performance energy materials within a circular economy framework. |
 | Through cutting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by integrating renewable energy generation, storage, and clean transport. |
Researcher's featured:
DR. Shahid Bashir
Universiti Malaya Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre
Get to know the researcher:
Dr. Shahid Bashir is a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya, specialising in advanced materials, electrochemical energy storage, and sustainable energy technologies. His research focuses on supercapacitors, hybrid supercapacitors, lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, green hydrogen production, MXenes, polymer and hydrogel electrolytes, rare-earth materials, green hydrogen and biomass-derived carbon for energy applications. Recognized in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list in Energy, he actively advances sustainable technologies toward practical applications and a low-carbon future.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Profile info: https://umexpert.um.edu.my/shahidbashirbaig
Email: shahidbashirbaig@um.edu.my
Tel: +603-2246 3246
Author:
Ms Puungkodi Paramasivam
Puungkodi Paramasivam is a fast-track PhD candidate at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, who finds solace and purpose in writing amidst the challenges of academic research. This is one of her many contributions to the UM Research Bulletin, a platform she values for showcasing groundbreaking work while allowing her to channel her creativity. Writing, she says, serves as a positive distraction from the demands of her PhD journey, enabling her to engage meaningfully with diverse fields of study. Proud to be an author under the UM Research Bulletin, Puungkodi continues to highlight innovative research and inspire others.
Copy-editor:
Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid
Research Outreach & Visibility Centre (OVIS), JPP, UM
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