New Hybrid Panel Generates Electricity From Both Sunlight and Rain
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📰 The quick summary: Chinese researchers have developed a hybrid solar panel that generates electricity from both sunlight and raindrops, making clean energy production possible in diverse weather conditions.
📈 One key stat: The lab prototype reached a peak voltage of 2.14 volts and a short-circuit current of 33 nanoamperes, demonstrating the feasibility of harvesting energy from rainfall.
💬 One key quote: “According to Baoquan Sun, the lead researcher in the project, the device can produce power in daytime weather and works well at night when there’s rainfall.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Researchers at China’s Soochow University have created a revolutionary hybrid solar panel that overcomes a major limitation of traditional solar technology. This new panel generates electricity not only from sunlight but also from raindrops, allowing continuous energy production regardless of weather conditions. By incorporating a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) into a standard solar cell, the panel converts the kinetic energy of raindrops into electrical energy through friction between polymer layers. This innovation ensures power generation during cloudy days, rainy weather, and even at night when it’s raining.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This technological breakthrough significantly expands the potential locations where solar energy can be deployed, particularly in regions with frequent rainfall or limited sunshine. The hybrid design features a compact, lightweight construction that simplifies manufacturing processes. By using a single electrode for both solar and triboelectric functions, production costs can be substantially reduced. The panel’s ability to generate electricity 24/7 regardless of weather conditions addresses one of the biggest challenges in renewable energy – intermittency – making solar power more reliable and versatile than ever before.
3️⃣ What’s next: The research team aims to refine their prototype for commercial release within the next three to five years. Future versions of the hybrid panel could deliver improved performance and potentially work alongside wind generators. Scaling up this technology could establish a new era of resilient and versatile solar energy solutions.
Read the full story here: Ecoticias – This panel doesn’t need sunlight — It produces energy with raindrops
