Technology 3 min read

Rain is no Problem for These All-Weather Solar Panels

Ocean University of China  | Admissions.cn

Ocean University of China | Admissions.cn

Chinese researchers have tapped into the properties of graphene to develop new solar cells that generate energy from sunlight as well as raindrops. While less efficient compared to conventional solar cells, the new design pushes the limits of solar power production by solving the issue of inclement weather.

The clean energy from photovoltaic solar panels is inexhaustible, non-polluting and scalable. In addition to being almost completely recyclable, solar panels are suitable for the decentralized production of electricity in isolated sites. Thanks to their modularity, they are suited for installations of various sizes in different environments, from domestic to large-scale industrial implementation. However, solar cells are costly, and their manufacture has a non-negligible environmental and energy impact. Besides, they can be stimulated only by sunlight, so their efficiency drops to its lowest on cloudy days.

#Chinese scientists developed all-weather solar panels coated in #graphene.Click To Tweet

All-Weather Solar Panels Coated in Graphene

A team of scientists from the Ocean University of China and Yunnan Normal University have developed solar cells able generate power even in the rain. These new all-weather solar panels are a proof of concept described in a paper published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

To achieve this, researchers experimented with the super material graphene for its many advantages. Graphene is an excellent conductor and allows light to pass through it. They added an atom-thick layer of electron-enriched graphene to a dye-sensitized solar cell, enabling the cell to react with the ions in raindrops.

Other than water, raindrops contain salts, such as calcium, ammonium, and sodium, which dissociates into positively and negatively-charged ions. Positively charged ions bind to electrons in the graphene layer, forming a double layer (a pseudocapacitor), which facilitates the displacement of electrons at the surface of the solar cell, and thus an electric current is generated.

A Promising Solution for our Energy Crisis

With a solar-to-electric conversion rate of 6.53%, the potential of these graphene-coated all-weather solar panels seems very limited, compared to 22% conversion rate of the most efficient photovoltaic cells. Nevertheless, this new concept could guide research into all-weather solar cells of optimal efficiency–especially with the development of simple methods to mass-produce graphene.

All-Weather Solar Panels Perfect for Bavaria

Germany, for example, which produces up to 50% of its electricity needs from solar irradiation, could increase its PV capacity further. In regions like Bavaria, where it rains more than a third of the year, all-weather solar panels could increase energy capture from rooftop solar panels.

Each Bavarian resident has three to four times more the photovoltaic capacity than when compared to residents of other regions. This clean energy culture, combined with new systems of rooftop energy culture, could make Bavarians a clean energy model for the world.

First AI Web Content Optimization Platform Just for Writers

Found this article interesting?

Let Zayan Guedim know how much you appreciate this article by clicking the heart icon and by sharing this article on social media.


Profile Image

Zayan Guedim

Trilingual poet, investigative journalist, and novelist. Zed loves tackling the big existential questions and all-things quantum.

Comments (2)
Most Recent most recent
You
  1. Randy Hook March 19 at 4:48 pm GMT

    I live in Washington State USA, Rain forever! I want to be an experimental site for these new graphene panels. Please anyone in connection with the company please contact me to see how I can be used in USA for their experimental panels. I have a child handicapped with Cerebral Palsy, so I am open to anything helping me save on expenses of my son. R Hook: randyhook59@gmail.com.

    • Alexander De Ridder March 19 at 4:59 pm GMT

      Hi Randy,

      Thank you so much for reading our blog! We appreciate all our readers.

      Also, we are very sorry to hear about your child’s condition. We wish you and your son all the strength and courage.

      It’s important to note that we are an independent news organization, and we aren’t affiliated with the companies or scientists we cover in our articles. You would improve your chances of getting in touch with them by reaching out to Ocean University of China and the Yunnan Normal University, since they are directly involved with this research.

share Scroll to top

Link Copied Successfully

Sign in

Sign in to access your personalized homepage, follow authors and topics you love, and clap for stories that matter to you.

Sign in with Google Sign in with Facebook

By using our site you agree to our privacy policy.