Chinese researchers recently created a hybrid solar panel cell that not only generates electricity from sunlight but can also convert raindrops into electricity. This hybrid solar cell changes the game of renewable energy because solar power has one huge limitation: it can only generate energy on sunny days. Conventional solar panels can only produce electricity from the sun and completely lose their efficiency at night.
How the new technology differs from conventional solar technology
Regular solar panels lose efficiency on cloudy days, but the new technology, however, is a solar cell combined with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology, which captures the energy of falling raindrops. The generator captures the energy from falling raindrops through a mechanical process with charge shifting through friction.
When raindrops fall on the generator, a small charge is created because the water, which is at room temperature, has a different affinity for electrons than the specially coated material. This charge is captured and can be used as electricity. This innovative tool is capable of generating electricity regardless of the weather.
As noted by The Guardian, solar energy has had challenges with reliability and has been critiqued for being inconsistent. While batteries can improve reliability, they are expensive and add additional complications to the systems. Having solar panels that generate energy during rain could alleviate these challenges to reliability.
The innovation is best suited to geography with irregular weather patterns, where rain is frequent
These hybrid panels can make renewable energy capture more practical and improve its economic value in the global market.
Does it still need sunlight?
Yes. The solar panel is primarily a solar cell and requires sunlight to generate its energy. The system is designed to supplement a solar cell to produce energy. Thus, the system does not take away the need for sunlight, but improves energy capture to keep production from being flat-lined when the weather turns overcast.
Researchers admit that the power generated through energy capture is much less than that from traditional solar, and every bit of power is valuable. Traditional panels produce no energy during extended periods of rain.
One of the most impressive advancements in the field of solar energy comes from the incorporation of a protective polymer layer on solar panels. This layer also happens to be a triboelectric material. This means that the solar panel can simultaneously collect energy from the rainfall, rather than simply receiving energy from the sun. Using the triboelectric touch, as well as integrating the TEG triboelectric effect to gain energy from moisture in the air technology with solar energy technology, allows the revolutionization of energy collected through both sun and rain.
Solar energy panels have the most opportunity to help mitigate the energy burden on the nationwide grid
Solar panels have no other option but to mobilize the energy-capturing technology, along with the panels. The energy panels can be placed on unused urban rooftop spaces. This recently proposed technology can change the nature of energy management in most urban skylines.
The triboelectric layer must be able to tolerate years of exposure to inclement weather without losing the ability to do its job. Plus, the energy generated gets boosted from raindrops; however, it isn’t much, meaning this tech has to be mastered as an addition to solar technology and should not be viewed as a replacement.
The integration of an assortment of energy generation strategies for optimal performance and usability. The more the climate alters and shifts, the more this tech will be needed to provide dependable energy. Even though it might be a long time before standard, everyday, all-weather panels are available to the public, it is still an encouraging concept aimed at a future of energy that is truly regenerative.
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