Solar panel coating captures water from the air
(Photo: KAUST)
June 10, 2026 – Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a transparent coating that keeps solar panels clean while collecting water from the air. The nanostructured surface cools slightly below the surrounding air at night, causing water vapour to condense into droplets. As these droplets roll across the panel, they remove dust and sand from the surface.
During a six-month outdoor trial, coated solar panels maintained their performance far better than untreated panels. The collected water was also sufficient for small-scale irrigation, making the technology particularly attractive for arid regions where both fresh water and regular maintenance are limited.
The coating is made from a food-grade silicone material and can be applied to standard glass solar panels. Researchers believe it could improve solar energy production while reducing water consumption and maintenance requirements in dry environments.
The study was published in early June in Energy & Environmental Materials under the title ‘Closing the Loop in Agrivoltaics: A Radiative Cooling Coating for Synergistic Self-Cleaning and Water Harvesting’.
