Scientists Harvest Energy from Rain

France (TGW) - Scientists at the CEA/Leti-Minatec in Grenoble, France have developed a system to produce energy from vibrations caused by raindrops.

“Our work could be considered as a good alternative to power systems in raining outdoor environments where solar energy is difficult to exploit,” researcher Thomas Jager said.

When a raindrop hits a surface, it produces a perfectly inelastic shock. To capture this energy, the scientists used a PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) polymer, a material that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Electrodes in the PVDF pick up the vibrations and convert them to energy.

The scientists have yet to develop a system that can store the power for practical use.

Via :: Physorg