Researchers in Saudi Arabia have created a new device that collects atmospheric water to cool solar cells without using electricity. This sustainable technology also promises reduced operational costs and can double water collection rates in arid regions.
Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in solar cell technology, coupled with its plentiful sunlight, has effectively positioned it to become a major exporter of renewable energy. Solar power now constitutes over 80% of the Kingdom’s renewable energy output. However, there’s an inherent paradox: these solar cells risk overheating due to their intense operation. To combat this, cooling systems are essential, though many of these systems still rely on electricity.
An international research team led by KAUST Professor Qiaoqiang Gan has designed a potential solution. Their device needs no electricity, as it extracts water from the air using nothing more than gravity and relies on cheap, readily available materials. Along with keeping the solar cells and other semiconductor technologies cool, the water can be repurposed for irrigation, washing, cooling buildings on which the solar cells are placed, and other applications.
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