The simulations, led by climatologist Oliver Branch of the University of Hohenheim (Germany), found that large enough solar power plants that absorb much more heat than the surrounding reflective desert sand can cause rain, TechRadar reports.
The modelling conditions included the United Arab Emirates region with the nearby Persian Gulf, and solar panels as surfaces that can absorb 95% of sunlight. It found that the temperature difference between the surfaces of the sand and the solar cells creates upward air currents that can lead to rain and provide water to the region.
Air currents contribute to cloud formation, but only if there is a source of moisture in the atmosphere nearby. The model showed that humid high winds from the Persian Gulf would be sufficient for this. The required temperature conditions could be created by a solar power plant of 15 km² or more.
A 20 km² field of solar cells could increase the amount of precipitation by almost 600,000 m³, which is equivalent to 1 cm of rainfall over an area of more than 80 km². If such downpours occurred ten times in one summer, it would be enough to supply water to more than 30,000 people a year.
“Some solar farms are getting up to the right size right now… Maybe it’s not science fiction that we can produce this effect,” says Oliver Branch, referring to China’s largest solar fields.
However, real solar cells are lighter than those in the model. They are designed to reflect light and cool the environment, which reduces the effect of provoking rain. Additionally, scientists suggest planting drought-resistant crops between the rows of solar cells to enhance the effect. According to Branch and his team, this model could work in other arid regions, such as Namibia and the Baja California Peninsula (Mexico).
Read also: AI data centres can heat up nearby areas by up to 9°C – study
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