MPOB Develops Palm Oil Cooling Fluid for Data Centres

What Is MPOB's Sawit EcoTherm Palm Oil Cooling Fluid for Data Centres?

MPOB's Sawit EcoTherm is a dielectric cooling fluid formulated from palm oil derivatives, developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for use in data centre immersion cooling systems. It belongs to the category of renewable, biodegradable dielectric fluids designed to replace synthetic hydrocarbons and fluorinated coolants in thermal management applications. The product solves the dual problem of high energy consumption in data centre cooling and the environmental impact of synthetic coolant production.

**The Sawit EcoTherm fluid is a palm oil-based dielectric coolant engineered to reduce data centre cooling energy consumption while providing a biodegradable alternative to synthetic immersion cooling fluids.**

Key Facts

How Does Sawit EcoTherm Reduce Energy Consumption in Data Centres?

Sawit EcoTherm reduces energy consumption by enabling immersion cooling, where server components are fully submerged in the dielectric fluid. This method eliminates the need for compressor-based air conditioning and allows heat to be transferred directly from hardware to the fluid, which is then circulated to a heat exchanger. The approach cuts cooling energy requirements by up to 40% compared to conventional air-cooled systems.

The fluid's thermal properties allow for higher heat capture efficiency than air, meaning less energy is required to achieve the same cooling effect. MPOB's development work indicates that the palm oil-based formulation maintains stable viscosity and thermal conductivity across operating temperatures typical of high-density server racks. Because the fluid is dielectric, it does not short-circuit electronic components, making it suitable for direct contact with live hardware.

"The use of palm oil-based fluids in immersion cooling presents a viable pathway for data centre operators to reduce both their carbon footprint and operational expenditure, while supporting the Malaysian palm oil industry's downstream diversification."

— Statement attributed to MPOB development team, as reported by Lowyat.net

**Immersion cooling with Sawit EcoTherm eliminates compressor-based air conditioning, directly reducing cooling-related electricity demand by up to 40% in MPOB's trial configurations.**

What Are the Environmental Benefits of Using Palm Oil-Based Coolants?

The environmental benefits of Sawit EcoTherm centre on its renewable origin, biodegradability, and reduced carbon footprint relative to synthetic coolants. Unlike petroleum-derived dielectric fluids such as mineral oils or synthetic esters, palm oil is a renewable crop-based feedstock. The fluid is designed to break down more readily in the environment, reducing the risk of persistent contamination from leaks or disposal.

Synthetic immersion cooling fluids often carry high embodied carbon from petrochemical refining. Sawit EcoTherm's production relies on an established agricultural supply chain, which MPOB states can be managed under Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification. However, the full lifecycle carbon footprint—including land-use change and plantation operations—is not disclosed in the source material. What is known is that the fluid's biodegradability addresses the end-of-life disposal problem that plagues perfluorocarbon-based coolants, which have global warming potential thousands of times higher than CO2.

**Sawit EcoTherm offers a biodegradable, renewable alternative to fluorinated coolants, directly mitigating the issue of persistent environmental pollution from data centre cooling fluid disposal.**

How Does Sawit EcoTherm Compare to Synthetic Dielectric Fluids?

Compared to synthetic dielectric fluids, Sawit EcoTherm offers advantages in sustainability and cost of feedstock, but trade-offs exist in performance consistency and long-term thermal stability. Synthetic fluids like 3M's Novec and engineered hydrocarbons are manufactured to precise specifications, ensuring uniform viscosity and heat transfer properties. Palm oil derivatives, while effective, are subject to natural variation in fatty acid composition based on crop yield and processing methods.

**Sawit EcoTherm's sustainability profile is superior to synthetic fluids on feedstock renewability and biodegradability, though its long-term thermal stability under sustained high load remains less documented than that of engineered synthetics.**

Who Is This For?

Sawit EcoTherm is designed for data centre operators, especially those in tropical climates like Malaysia and Southeast Asia, where ambient temperatures are high and cooling loads are significant. It is also relevant for colocation providers, edge computing facilities, and enterprises pursuing net-zero carbon commitments. The product is of particular interest to organisations seeking to align their IT infrastructure with sustainable sourcing requirements or to reduce operational expenditure on cooling.

The ideal early adopter is a hyperscale or mid-sized data centre operator that already uses immersion cooling or is willing to retrofit existing infrastructure. Given the Malaysian origin, domestic operators in Malaysia may gain first-mover access, with potential for regional export to neighbouring markets with growing data centre industries. Organisations with certified sustainable palm oil procurement policies will find it easier to integrate Sawit EcoTherm into their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting frameworks.

**The primary target users for Sawit EcoTherm are data centre operators in hot climates seeking to reduce cooling energy costs while meeting corporate sustainability targets through renewable, biodegradable cooling media.**

Common Questions

Does palm oil-based coolant affect server hardware performance?

Sawit EcoTherm is a dielectric fluid, meaning it does not conduct electricity, preventing short circuits when servers are submerged. MPOB's trials report no degradation in compute performance during immersion testing. However, long-term material compatibility with server components, such as plastics and adhesives, requires validation on a case-by-case basis.

What is the claimed energy saving percentage for Sawit EcoTherm?

MPOB reports that immersion cooling with Sawit EcoTherm can cut cooling energy consumption by up to 40% compared to conventional air-conditioned data centre environments. The exact figure depends on server density, ambient climate, and heat exchanger efficiency. The 40% figure represents the upper bound from development trials, not a guaranteed outcome.

Is Sawit EcoTherm available for commercial purchase?

As of the latest reporting by Lowyat.net, Sawit EcoTherm is in the development and pilot-testing phase. MPOB is seeking industry partners for commercialisation, but a public release date and pricing structure have not been announced. Data centre operators should contact MPOB directly for partnership inquiries.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the source material published by Lowyat.net (https://www.lowyat.net/2026/400962/mpob-sawit-ecotherm-data-centre-cooling/), titled "MPOB Develops Palm Oil Cooling Fluid for Data Centres." The original source was published in English; no translation was required. Where the source did not provide specific quantitative data—such as exact pricing, full lifecycle carbon emissions, or commercial release dates—this article explicitly states that the information is unknown or not disclosed. The direct quote attributed to MPOB was reproduced as reported by Lowyat.net. This article was last updated on March 22, 2026.