Closing the Loop in Agrivoltaics: A Radiative Cooling Coating for Synergistic Self‐Cleaning and Water Harvesting

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels into agricultural landscapes (i.e., agrivoltaics) offers a promising path for sustainable land use, yet its potential is limited by dust soiling and water scarcity. Current cleaning methods are often water‐intensive, costly, or ecologically detrimental. Here, we introduce a multifunctional coating that synergistically couples PV panels with the microclimate to address these intertwined challenges. Fabricated via a simple, solvent‐free process from a food‐grade silicone, the coating is highly transparent (~91.3%, 350–1100 nm) and superhydrophobic (contact angle: 167°, sliding angle: 3°). Crucially, its high emissivity (0.90) in the atmospheric window (8–13 μm) enhances radiative cooling, passively inducing nighttime condensation. This condensation triggers a self‐cleaning mechanism, where shedding droplets autonomously remove dust, and simultaneously enables atmospheric water harvesting. In 6‐month outdoor tests in Saudi Arabia, coated panels maintained performance with only ~1.5% power loss, compared to ~28% for uncoated panels. Furthermore, the system achieved a dew yield of 128 g m −2 per night—over twice that of untreated surfaces—providing a water source sufficient for irrigating co‐located crops (demonstrated with Brassica rapa chinensis ). This work transformed the PV panel from a passive energy harvester into an active hub that ensures its own performance while supporting on‐site agriculture, establishing a resilient and self‐sustaining nexus for energy, water, and food security.

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Publication Details

Journal
Energy & environment materials
Published
2026-06-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.70350
Primary Topic
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Closing the Loop in Agrivoltaics: A Radiative Cooling Coating for Synergistic Self‐Cleaning and Water Harvesting

Hussam Qasem, Dan Daniel, Saichao Dang, Murali Gedda et al.
Energy & environment materials
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
article

Closing the Loop in Agrivoltaics: A Radiative Cooling Coating for Synergistic Self‐Cleaning and Water Harvesting

Hussam Qasem, Dan Daniel, Saichao Dang, Murali Gedda, Jehad K. El‐Demellawi, Stefaan De Wolf, Abdul Rahim Siddiqui, Yuxuan Huang, Shakeel Ahmad, Osman M. Bakr, Qiaoqiang Gan, Husam N. Alshareef
article en

Abstract

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels into agricultural landscapes (i.e., agrivoltaics) offers a promising path for sustainable land use, yet its potential is limited by dust soiling and water scarcity. Current cleaning methods are often water‐intensive, costly, or ecologically detrimental. Here, we introduce a multifunctional coating that synergistically couples PV panels with the microclimate to address these intertwined challenges. Fabricated via a simple, solvent‐free process from a food‐grade silicone, the coating is highly transparent (~91.3%, 350–1100 nm) and superhydrophobic (contact angle: 167°, sliding angle: 3°). Crucially, its high emissivity (0.90) in the atmospheric window (8–13 μm) enhances radiative cooling, passively inducing nighttime condensation. This condensation triggers a self‐cleaning mechanism, where shedding droplets autonomously remove dust, and simultaneously enables atmospheric water harvesting. In 6‐month outdoor tests in Saudi Arabia, coated panels maintained performance with only ~1.5% power loss, compared to ~28% for uncoated panels. Furthermore, the system achieved a dew yield of 128 g m −2 per night—over twice that of untreated surfaces—providing a water source sufficient for irrigating co‐located crops (demonstrated with Brassica rapa chinensis ). This work transformed the PV panel from a passive energy harvester into an active hub that ensures its own performance while supporting on‐site agriculture, establishing a resilient and self‐sustaining nexus for energy, water, and food security.

Energy & environment materials
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (SA), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
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