Rain-Powered Solar Panels in Jackson: Our White Paper

Jackson, Mississippi, faces dual challenges of aging infrastructure and increasing demand for reliable energy solutions. 

Recent advancements in hybrid solar technologies that combine photovoltaic (PV) panels with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a transformative approach to energy resilience by harvesting both sunlight and raindrop kinetic energy. 

This report explores the feasibility, technological foundations, and potential applications of rain-powered solar panels in Jackson, contextualized within the city’s climate, energy landscape, and infrastructure needs.

Solar Energy Potential in Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson’s climate provides a strong foundation for solar energy adoption, with an average of 211 sunny days annually and peak sun hours ranging from 5.1 to 6.6 hours per day depending on panel tilt. 

Local solar companies like Solar Alternatives and Mississippi Solar, LLC have capitalized on this potential, offering grid-tied and off-grid systems tailored to the region’s needs. 

• Residential solar installations in Jackson typically cost $2.11–$3.17 per watt, with a 10 kW system averaging $23,380 before federal tax credits.

• However, solar adoption faces challenges from Jackson’s frequent heavy rainfall and severe weather events. For instance, the 2025 water crisis, exacerbated by flooding of the Pearl River, highlighted vulnerabilities in energy and water infrastructure. 

Hybrid systems that maintain functionality during storms are critical for ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

Triboelectric Nanogenerators: Harvesting Raindrop Energy

Principles of TENG Technology

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) convert mechanical energy from raindrop impacts into electricity via the triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction. 

When raindrops strike a hydrophobic surface (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE), they transfer positive charges to the material, while the surface retains negative charges. This charge separation generates a measurable current. 

Recent designs, such as bridge array TENGs, optimize large-scale energy harvesting by minimizing coupling capacitance between panels, achieving peak outputs of 200 W/m²—five times higher than conventional setups.

Synergy with Solar Panels

Integrating TENGs with PV panels addresses the intermittency of solar power. For example:

• A transparent TENG layer atop solar cells harvests raindrop energy without blocking sunlight, boosting output during storms.
  
• Hybrid systems can achieve 85–95% efficiency in energy conversion, with TENGs supplementing solar generation during low-light conditions.
  
• In rainy climates, TENGs outperform solar panels, generating up to 40.80 mW/m² compared to 37.03 mW/m² from PV cells.

Case Study: Feasibility in Jackson’s Climate

Rainfall Patterns and Energy Yield

Jackson receives approximately 1,400 mm of annual rainfall, with intense downpours during the summer monsoon season. A 10 m² hybrid panel array could generate:

• Solar: ~14,985 kWh/year (at 1,498 kWh/kW/year).
  
• TENG: ~280 kWh/year (at 200 W/m² during 1,400 hours of rain).
  While TENG contributions are modest, they provide critical backup during grid outages, which are common in Mississippi due to storms.

Infrastructure and Economic Considerations

1. Retrofitting Existing Solar Farms: Installing TENG layers on Jackson’s 16.5 MW solar capacity could add ~3.3 MW of rain-driven generation during storms.
   
2. Cost-Benefit Analysis: TENG materials add ~$0.50/W to installation costs, but federal tax credits (30%) and Mississippi’s net metering policies improve ROI.
   
3. Durability: Fluorinated coatings (e.g., CFₓ) protect perovskite solar cells from moisture, maintaining 80% efficiency after 100 hours in humid conditions.
   

Challenges and Innovations

Technical Limitations

• Power Loss in Arrays: Coupling capacitance between TENG units reduces output, but bridge array designs mitigate this.
  
• Material Degradation: PTFE and PDMS layers require frequent cleaning. Automated robots (e.g., solar panel cleaning robots with triboelectric brushes) address this.

Local Innovations

Researchers at Jackson State University have developed moisture-resistant perovskite solar cells using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which retain 85% efficiency after 720 hours in humid conditions. This aligns with TENG integration needs.

Future Prospects and Recommendations

Policy and Infrastructure

1. Storm-Resilient Microgrids: Deploy hybrid solar-TENG systems in critical facilities (e.g., hospitals) using $37 million in federal infrastructure grants.
   
2. Community Solar Programs: Partner with companies like Blue Pacific Solar to subsidize installations in low-income areas.

Research Priorities

• Scalable TENG Manufacturing: Adopt roll-to-roll printing for flexible TENG films, as demonstrated in recent 3D-printed prototypes.
  
• AI-Optimized Energy Management: Machine learning algorithms can predict rainfall patterns and switch between solar/TENG modes.

Conclusion

Jackson’s transition to rain-powered solar panels is both technologically viable and socially imperative. By combining Mississippi’s solar potential with cutting-edge TENG systems, the city can mitigate energy poverty, enhance grid resilience, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 

Strategic investments in hybrid infrastructure, coupled with community-driven policies, will position Jackson as a model for sustainable energy innovation in the southeastern United States.

This whitepaper synthesizes insights from academic studies, industry reports, and local data to outline a path toward energy resilience in Jackson. Further pilot projects and public-private partnerships are essential to validate these findings at scale.