May 29, 2018 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Solar Cells That Work When It’s Raining Are Coming Soon

If you operate a solar installation business in an area with a less-than-stellar reputation for sunny skies, your prayers may have just been answered. According to a recent report on The Guardian and many other news sources, researchers have announced the invention of a solar cell that harvests energy from raindrops.

In areas that see more rainy days than sunny ones throughout the year, solar energy has always suffered a perception bias. Sure, it works, but only when the sun shines. But now, thanks to this recently developed technology, selling customers in rainier climes on the more sustainable, economically advantageous, and efficient use of solar as a means of powering their homes just got a lot easier.

Harvesting Energy From the Raindrops

Researchers have been working for some time on ways to integrate nano-generators into solar panels, so that they can harvest the energy generated by the impact of raindrops when the sun isn’t shining. Unfortunately, the resulting solar panels ended up being far too bulky to be of practical use.

This latest development, according to information reported by the American Chemical Society, involves implanting grooves of transparent polymers on the surface of solar panels. These grooves contain a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that relays power to the solar panel whenever rain is striking the surface of the panel.

No Loss in Efficiency When The Sun Is Shining

Because the two polymers used in the process are transparent, no loss of efficiency in the solar cells themselves was reported while the sun was shining. The panels produce energy when the sun is out, and also when the sun is obscured from clouds or weather and rain is falling.

As reported in the article “Integrating a Silicon Solar Cell with a Triboelectric Nanogenerator via a Mutual Electrode for Harvesting Energy from Sunlight and Raindrops” in the journal ACS Nano, the design of these panels is revolutionary for its lightness, as one of the polymer layers of the panel acts as the electrode for both the TENG and the solar cell itself.

The Cost of Another Solar Miracle

With solar power materials and installation plummeting over the last decade, it remains to be seen how this new type of solar panel may fit into the overall cost structure of solar in the United States.

The researchers behind the revolutionary new technology hope to have a prototype product ready for mass production in around three to five years. It’s certain to be more expensive than baseline solar panels are currently. But, its very existence will help to make the argument to go solar even easier, in areas known for a less-than-sunny climate.

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