A Community Service Team consisting of Dr. Tulus Burhanuddin Sitorus, S.T., M.T.; Sarah Patumona Manulu, S.K.M., M.Sc.; and Yasmine Anggia Sari, S.Si., M.T., has implemented an innovative program titled “Clean Marine Energy: Optimizing the Use of Solar Panels to Improve Cooling Storage Efficiency for Fishermen in Sibolga Toward Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation.”

The aim of this Community Service program was to apply solar panel technology to the cooling storage systems used by fishermen groups to reduce dependence on conventional materials such as ice, which are typically used to store their marine catches. The utilization of alternative solar energy is expected to help fishermen overcome operational cost constraints related to ice procurement.

This initiative is expected to serve as a model for renewable energy development in the fisheries sector in other coastal regions and to support the achievement of sustainable development goals, particularly in clean energy management and climate action.

The outcomes showed an increase in participants’ technical knowledge and a reduction in electricity costs for cooling storage operations, allowing the catch to be stored longer while maintaining its quality.