Anticipation for Precipitation: Hybrid Solar Cells that Utilize Rainfall
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Student Year and Major
Sophomore, Aerospace Engineering
Presentation Description/Abstract
The US currently uses over 3.3 TW of energy each year, and only 6.9% of that energy is obtained through solar power. Solar panels are costly and only collect energy when the sun is shining. With recent technology, however, the world may have solar panels that can collect energy when the clouds roll in. First developed at Soochow University in China, these solar panels are able to harvest kinetic energy through rainfall. Currently, the Institute of Materials Science of Seville is working to develop perovskite solar cells with an updated prototype that utilizes a fluoropolymer coating. This developed technology increases durability, lowers production cost, and has a higher performance than current hybrid solar panels. Data collected shows that a single raindrop on these cells can generate up to 110 volts of electricity. Researchers are still working to make the energy from the rainfall more effective as well as increase the durability and lifespan of the fluoropolymer coating that lines the top of the solar panels. The coating’s sensitivity to moisture is the biggest setback from the technology being mass produced. Nonetheless, the perovskite solar cell technology will make solar panels more compact and efficient, especially in rainy areas of the world. This development will increase the amount of renewable energy and decrease the amount of fossil fuels harvested by the US when it is ready to be produced.
Keywords
Solar Power, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Rain, Hybrid Solar Panels
Anticipation for Precipitation: Hybrid Solar Cells that Utilize Rainfall
The US currently uses over 3.3 TW of energy each year, and only 6.9% of that energy is obtained through solar power. Solar panels are costly and only collect energy when the sun is shining. With recent technology, however, the world may have solar panels that can collect energy when the clouds roll in. First developed at Soochow University in China, these solar panels are able to harvest kinetic energy through rainfall. Currently, the Institute of Materials Science of Seville is working to develop perovskite solar cells with an updated prototype that utilizes a fluoropolymer coating. This developed technology increases durability, lowers production cost, and has a higher performance than current hybrid solar panels. Data collected shows that a single raindrop on these cells can generate up to 110 volts of electricity. Researchers are still working to make the energy from the rainfall more effective as well as increase the durability and lifespan of the fluoropolymer coating that lines the top of the solar panels. The coating’s sensitivity to moisture is the biggest setback from the technology being mass produced. Nonetheless, the perovskite solar cell technology will make solar panels more compact and efficient, especially in rainy areas of the world. This development will increase the amount of renewable energy and decrease the amount of fossil fuels harvested by the US when it is ready to be produced.