New solar panels generate electricity from rain
A new range of all weather solar panels could help further reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels and make renewable energy an even more attractive proposition.
Key takeaways
- Chinese scientists have announced that they're able to create electricity with the assistance of raindrops thanks to a thin layer of graphene they used to coat their solar cells during testing.
- When water is present the graphene binds its electrons with positively charged ions, using a process called the Lewis acid-base interaction.
- The salt contained in rain separates into ions, namely ammonium, calcium and sodium, making graphene and natural water a great combination for creating energy.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'New solar panels generate electricity from rain', 311 Institute, 24 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/new-solar-panels-generate-electricity-from-rain/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Solar panel technology has changed the way many people bring energy into their homes, but it's always had a flaw - solar panels are less effective, or at worst useless, if the weather conditions aren't just right and they can only hold a charge for so long.
So if you live in a part of the world that's always buried under clouds and drenched by rain then you might as well say goodbye to your dreams of living using renewable energy. That is until now... While engineers and material scientists have been able to make their efficiency far better over the years, with solar panels that store decent amounts of energy to be used when sun is not readily available, there has never quite been a development like this one. Chinese scientists have announced that they're able to create electricity with the assistance of raindrops thanks to a thin layer of graphene they used to coat their solar cells during testing.
Graphene is known for its conductivity, among many other benefits and apparently, all it takes to turn a solar panel into a "hydro" powered one is a one atom thick layer of graphene that helps an excessive amount of electrons - the very definition of electricity themselves - move as the water washes over the surface of the panel. When water is present the graphene binds its electrons with positively charged ions, using a process called the Lewis acid-base interaction.
The salt contained in rain separates into ions, namely ammonium, calcium and sodium, making graphene and natural water a great combination for creating energy. The water clings to the graphene, forming a dual layer, a pseudocapacitor, with the graphene electrons and the energy difference between these layers is so strong that it generates electricity.
The result is that these new solar cells can be stimulated by light on sunny days and raindrops when it’s raining, and while the results aren't perfect, with the rain panels converting just 6.5 per cent of the energy they receive, compared to 22.5% for the world's best solar panels, it's enough to produce a voltage of hundreds of mV from raindrops.
While the rain-powered cells are only a working concept at the moment, rather than a marketable product, the researchers suggest it can inform future designs.
"The new concept can guide the design of advanced all-weather solar cells," said the study.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
A new range of all weather solar panels could help further reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels and make renewable energy an even more attractive proposition.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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Sources and further reading
- Lewis acid-base interaction en.wikipedia.org
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 24 February 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). New solar panels generate electricity from rain. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/new-solar-panels-generate-electricity-from-rain/
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