Rain Can Be Used To Create Energy With This Solar-Panel-Like Technology

In a not-too-distant future, homes may have energy-producing rain panels on their roofs in addition to solar panels. A gadget that generates electricity by collecting raindrops has been created by Chinese researchers.

Photovoltaic panels are widely used by homes and are especially well-liked in sunny areas. However, how can you maximize power output if you reside in a place where rains are more likely to strike windows than sunrays? A group of Chinese scientists have been attempting to solve this conundrum by creating raindrop-activated panels. The idea behind solar, or photovoltaic, panels is the same. Except that rainwater, not sunshine, is used to create power. The authors of the paper note that “how to harvest it efficiently is becoming a hot research topic,” and they point out that “raindrops contain abundant renewable energy, including both kinetic and electrostatic energy.”

Although the method of turning water into energy is not brand-new, it is seldom used in applications with raindrops due to the little amounts produced. Tsinghua University academics have specifically worked to enhance this characteristic. At 200 watts per square meter, they have created a gadget whose energy output is virtually equal to that of a solar panel. “Referring to the design of solar panels in which multiple solar power generation units are connected in parallel to supply the load, a simple and effective method for raindrop energy harvesting is proposed in this paper,” the researchers write.

Therefore, the approach presented here is based on the hydroelectricity concept but uses it on a massive scale. The researchers tested the effectiveness of various generator types and panel thickness before settling on bridge array generators, whose peak power output is “nearly five times that of the conventional large-area raindrop energy,” according to co-author and professor Zong Li of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, China. The researcher continues, “The findings of this study will provide a workable plan for large-area raindrop energy harvesting.”

These panels have only recently been created, thus they are not yet available for purchase. However, we can clearly see the popularity of such an idea among manufacturers and households, particularly in places with heavy rainfall.