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RAINWATER FROM GUTTERS: AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY

A Research Presented to
the Senior High School Faculty of
Assumption College of Nabunturan
Nabunturan, Davao de Oro

In Partial Fulfillment
On the Requirement for the Subject
PRACTICAL RESEARCH – 2

By.

MELVY JHEE G. COCAMAS

REX JEZRIL S. CABILAR
HARVEY G. ALABA
KATE DIANE D. BUHANGUE
JANDY P. MONSANTO
TRISHA ANN MARIE M. CASTRODES
JAY-R D. ANDOY

JUNE 2024
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Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

The Problem and Its Background

Household electrification aims to provide people access to a variety of energy

services. However, in developing countries, power outages are frequent, causing

households to incur additional costs for backup power in addition to their utility bills

(Hashemi, 2022), and the high energy costs have also led to an extreme rise in inflation.

A rain generator is a harvesting energy system that uses rainwater to provide renewable

alternative energy source (Hussein et al., 2021). Despite of renewable energy source,

fossil fuels are still a common source of electricity which affects climate change,

greenhouse gases, and global warming. According to the Roosevelt Institute's study,

fossil fuels systems has a variable impact on the inflation metrics. These difficulties

regarding to electricity make it hard for households in rural areas to access daily

essentials and to proceed with their significant activities.

Italy is among the top nations with the most expensive electricity costs, having

kilowatt-hourly power costs of $0.789 (Ijaz, 2023). This social problem has been

causing the financial situation of struggling residents to decline monetary resources.

Meanwhile, the area in Sub-Saharan Africa is most impacted by the absence of

electrical supply (Munro & Schiffer, 2019). For lighting and phone charging in wet areas

with limited electricity, the rain generator system offers an alternative power source that

can perform better when there is a lot of rainfall. In nations like Malaysia, the system

may generate more than 4 kWh in a single downpour, contributing 80 MWh to the

national grid each year (Hussein et al., 2021).

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In the Philippines, plenty rural areas do not have the privilege to use the benefits

of a power supply. Nunungan, a town in Lanao del Norte, has been without an energy

supply for more than decades. The town relies on a few solar-powered lights and diesel-

powered generators to operate. Local authorities asserted that the town's power supply

has been neglected and that its residents have been yearning for electricity for years

(Manos, 2022). In addition to this, the province of Leyte in the Philippines has an

abundant amount of rainfall due to the typhoons that frequently hit the province. With

this, the use of the energy saved in the rainwater harvesting system is incorporated into

the system, calculating the equal amount of energy produced using rainwater. This was

of help to the town of Leyte in harvesting rainwater and utilizing its equivalent stored

potential energy as an alternative source of power (Oquiño et al., 2023).

In the community of Siocon, two barangay officials have shared their sentiments

regarding the electrical challenges faced by the community. An official shared that there

are few households within the barangay without an electricity connection due to a

shortage as well as the high expense that comes with electricity, making it financially

challenging for low- and average-earning individuals. In addition to that, a number of

residents have been reported to express dissatisfaction in the power supply with

complaints primarily revolving around the persistent occurrence of power outages,

which seem to be triggered even by mild winds and rainfall, posing hindrances for the

locals in carrying out their daily routines and activities. As the researchers perceive the

difficulties in electrification meet by the local residents, the aim would be to create an

innovation that provides an alternative renewable power source, which can also be an

alternative solution to the high-power consumption costs of households.

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Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents a review and summary of the previously published

literature and research done by other researchers in the same field of study.

Rainwater as a Source of Energy. Water is utilized in many different ways. It is

used for bathing, cooking, drinking, and also generating electricity. Today, the world

experience scarcity in drinkable water because of climate change. For that reason, the

utilized drinkable water used for generating electricity should be minimized. An

alternative solution for that is to utilized rainwater rather than drinkable water (Qi et al.,

2019). A study by Ray et al. (2022) also added that utilizing rainwater to generate

electricity can solve the lack of power supply and water.

A study by Sahara et al. (2020) discussed how micro-hydroelectric generators

are suitable to be used in rural areas. According to their study, these generators are

compatible with waterfalls that is highly available in rural areas. These types of

generators rotate faster when paired with waterfalls. The researchers of this study have

found that there are more voltage and wattage generated the faster the turbine rotates.

In addition, a research by Li et al. (2020) explore how the precipitation affects the

electricity generated. It was found that other months have more precipitation leading to

more electricity generated. These studies emphasize the compatibility of the micro-

hydroelectric generators. Thus, implying that for generating more electricity, the

compatibility of the generator to other factors must be observed.

In addition, A study by Fernando et al. (2021) simulated a hydroelectric generator

system that uses rainwater as the source of energy. The study simulated with the

system containing a roof that gathers the rainwater then a pico generator that is
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connected through a pipe. The study found that using this type of hydroelectric system

can produce a significant amount of energy to power different household materials. A

similar study by Amin et al. (2024) experimented with using pico generators to utilize

that comes from rain and wasted water. The study found that not only does it generate a

sufficient amount of electricity, but it can also theoretically power a small house. Further,

they concluded that this could potentially solve the power crisis in Bangladesh.

Similarly, Idros et al. (2023) administered an experimentation on rooftop

rainwater energy harvesting. This study used a hydro turbine inside a cylinder-shaped

housing that spins by using runoff water collected from roof gutters to power a small-

scale magnet generator. The electricity produced by the generator was then utilized to

charge a 12V battery. The experiment looks into the effects of its three primary

components: the position of the hydro turbine, the generated rates of torque by the

generator, and the presence of a rainwater buffer. The hydro turbine's position is

observed in two ways: higher and lower from the ground. In order to examine the water

flow in the pipe during rainfall and the presence or absence of a rainwater buffer, a ball

valve was employed as a passive rainwater buffer. Simply put, the experiment's findings

showed that the starting and ultimate voltage output values of the micro hydro system

are significantly influenced by the rotation of the water.

Moreover, a similar study by Dorji et al. (2021) tried to make an innovation that

uses high-rise buildings and rainwater. The study made use of micro-generators by

including them in downward pipes. The research found that these types of systems

have big potential as they can generate large amounts of electricity. However, they

emphasize that their system is very expensive, so there is a need for exploring cost-
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effective materials, as added by Cao et al. (2019), which accumulated rainwater at the

top of a high building and used the energy the rainwater gains with gravity to make a

hydroelectric generator work. The amount of electricity that could be gained from this

model could even make the lighting system on the bottom floor work. The research also

emphasizes that the initial cost of applying the research would be a large amount of

money. However, in the long run, it can be cost-effective as it produces a large amount

of electricity.

The idea of including hydroelectric generators inside pipes to harness rainwater

is environmentally friendly and could solve the problem of a lack of electricity in rural

areas. However, implementing it comes with the need for a significant amount of money

(Procedia et al., 2023). To solve the problem of the need to obtain a significant amount

of money to have an efficient micro-hydro generator, a suggested alternative is to use

spoons to act as the turbine. Through utilizing spoons by welding it, the implementation

of the idea would become cheap. It was also found that by using spoons a sufficient

amount of electricity is generated comparable to other turbines (Budiarso et al., 2019). A

similar study by Olaniyan et al. (2023) is about creating a hybrid pico hydro generator

from electronic waste. This involves electronic wastes such as power supply units in

computers. Not only is this alternative cost-effective and good for the environment, it

can also generate a sufficient amount of electricity.

Electrical energy generated from rain is one of the least explored forms of

renewable energy. Hence, a systematic approach should be carried out in that field. An

alternative way to harness the unused energy from rain is to use a special pipe and

microgenerator system (SPMS). However, the amount of energy depends on the height
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and area of the roof, as well as the location (Vītols & Raņķis, 2014). A similar study by

Carter et al. (2023) found that including a micro-hydro turbine system in a pipe,

specifically in downward pipes, generates a significant amount of electricity. In addition

to that, their study found that applying a micro-hydroelectric generator in a series has

great potential as a primary source of energy. The use of hydroelectric generators in

pipes is a feasible idea. In residential buildings where energy is needed, applying a

micro permanent generator proves to be really efficient. Not only will it save electricity,

but by choosing cost-effective materials, this type of system would provide significant

benefits (Rahman et al., 2019).

A study by Paul and Chang (2021) examined the efficiency of generating

electricity in urban areas by using rainwater as the source of energy to power the

generator. They used a generator that utilizes a turbine, and it was found that it has the

ability to produce a sufficient amount of electricity. In addition, a study by Setyawan et

al. (2020) found that setting generators inside the pipes can generate sufficient

electricity and that pico generators are cost-effective for setting up this type of system.

In addition, in the context of being cost-effective, Bostan et al. (2013) stated that using

generators that utilize turbines is a good option. Not only is it cost-effective, but it is also

efficient in generating electricity.

In relation to this, Habib and Seng (2018) tried to generate electricity by using

high buildings. In their study, they found that the higher the building is, the more

electricity is generated. This happens because of the water-pressure caused by the long

pipes in high buildings. Furthermore, a study by Di Dio et al. (2022) stated that topology,

specifically how high a place, affects the electricity generated. Their study found that to
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generate more electricity, utilizing high places is efficient for generating electricity.

Overall, these studies discuss how the height affects the electricity generated.

In the context of how the features of the generator affects the electricity

generated, a study by Bao and Wang (2020) experimented and compared designs that

generate more electricity. They tried to compare the electricity generated, which slows

down the flow of water, with those that do not. In their study, it was found that the more

rainwater there was, the more their innovation narrowed the gap between hydroelectric

systems that do not use rainwater buffers. In simple terms, their study found that there

is minimal difference between hydroelectric systems that contain buffers and those that

do not.

In relation to this, their later study also innovated a hydroelectric system design

for rainwater energy harvesting, as they learned from their previous study that there is a

minimal difference in terms of using a buffer. Their new innovation entailed adding a

container that opens automatically when it is full. The innovation is about collecting the

rainwater using a funnel structure on the rooftop and then storing it in a storage that

automatically opens when the container is full. When the storage is full, it is directed to

the generator. The study concluded that the self-release tank increased the amount of

electricity generated by the harvesting system as a large amount of water produced a

significant amount of mechanical stress (Bao & Wang, 2021). Their two studies

emphasize how the design and the proper choice of features affect the energy produced

by the generator.

Concerning proper choice, a study by Fu and Yeatman (2018) seeks to find what

type of generator is the best in different situations. This contains the comparison and
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difference between the 3 generators that use rain as a source of electricity. The results

show that the best use of rotations to produce electricity is electromagnetic rotational

energy harvesters (EMREHs), which are also known as permanent magnet generators.

And, piezoelectric resonant rotational energy harvesters (PRREHs) are also good for

the constant flow of rainwater. On the other hand, piezoelectric non-resonant rotational

energy harvesters (PNRREHs) are suitable for low-scale amounts of water.

Furthermore, for the rotation-powered generator, a good alternative generator requires a

passive energy harvester. This was found to be the best type of generator when comes

to uses rotation (Gu & Livermore, 2010).

Rain is a valuable resource that can harness the power of nature to generate a

substantial amount of electricity. While it may not present all the time, it can also paired

with a wind-powered generator. This can also be used as a substitute, a type of system

for common sources of electricity, such as fossil fuel and solar panels (Lallart et al.,

2010). Corresponding to the study of Vatansever et al. (2011), they discussed

generating electricity is possible by using raindrops and winds which they call PVDF.

They suggest that it still requires further exploration regarding the idea of achieving

more efficient energy harvesting by employing wind and rainwater.

To fully utilize rain as an energy source to generate electricity some factors must

be considered. One of these factors is that the duration of the rain does not have an

effect on the generated electricity but rather affects the volume of the rainwater (Wong

et al., 2017). Relating to the study by Aziz et al. (2015) indicates the idea that many

factors do have an effect on the produced electricity. These factors are required to be

explored entirely for effective electricity production. These factors include concerns
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regarding the circuit. Problems concerning the type of wire that would be used are

critical for electricity production.

Additionally, one more thing to note is that the pressure of raindrops greatly

varies the production of electricity in using piezoelectric devices. Another thing to take

note of is to pay proper attention to the hydroelectric device circuit, as it greatly affects

the transfer of electricity (Ardenio, 2018). Further, it is important that raindrops generate

more electricity at a specific angle in a good surface condition of the piezoelectric

device to ensure efficient energy production (Ilyas & Swingler, 2017). In addition to this,

a study by Ilyas and Swingler (2015) concluded that to obtain a more effective energy

transfer, exploring new designs for the harvester surface, specifically for piezoelectric

devices, is suggested to optimize the impact mechanism.

In relation to that, a study by Wong et al. (2014) tried to find a type of

piezoelectric surface and structure that can generate the most electricity. In his study, he

found that a cantilever structure produces more electricity. A later study by Viola (2018)

found a similar conclusion, in which for effective energy harvesting, a cantilever

structure with a battery as an electrical storage is recommended. Leadenham and

Erturk (2014) also pointed out that a bimorph cantilever model showed that it can be

used as a practical model. It was found that the voltage generated was higher when the

system was close to short circuit conditions, and when the circuit was similar to open

circuit conditions.

One of the more interesting renewable power systems nowadays, other than the

photovoltaic and wind systems, is in-pipe energy harvesting or hydro systems; it is truly

compelling for urban areas and building scale due to its capacity to harvest clean
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energy from the additional head pressure of water pipelines in home and urban settings.

These certain micro hydropower systems, which can function in a variety of flow

conditions, can be installed in other towns, energy-intensive industries, and agricultural

waterway districts that can provide a conformable and continual quantity of clean

energy without any interruption from solar or wind power while serving in pipeline

management and maintenance. The following document lists the many kinds of in-pipe

systems that are already on the market, demonstrates how they could be used at the

building and urban scale, and outlines the potential advantages in terms of energy

generation that go beyond solar and wind power.

Alternative Energy Sources. The global population is dependent on

conventional energy sources, which include burning unrenewable fossil fuels, one of

which is coal or oil. The massive exploitation of natural gas, coal, along oil to reach the

energy needs has resulted in an ongoing increase in the emissions that fuel global

warming. Gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gases. Due to the

overlapping, dramatic rise in energy demand, the world is on the verge of an energy

crisis. Nonetheless, there are useful and greener alternatives to fossil fuels, like wind

and other renewable energy sources- solar, heat, and hydro. Wind energy also is

among the most favorable and productive renewable energy sources because of its

wide availability and low operating costs. Any wind energy system's essential element is

the wind turbine, which converts wind energy into mechanical power with a wide range

of applications (Kumar et al., 2016).

A study by Dincer (2011) asserts that among the renewable energy sources, wind

energy is dependable and promising. As among the sources of pure renewable energy,
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wind energy is growing in popularity. Numerous nations are rapidly expanding their

installed wind energy capacity, and they are doing so by enacting a range of incentive

programs. As a result, it is predicted that the role of wind energy will grow significantly

this coming next few decades. More than 3000 years have passed since the first

recorded usage of wind power, and only 120 years ago did mankind start using it to

produce electricity (Leung & Yang, 2012).

Within power distribution networks, large wind turbines (up to 6–8 MW in

capacity) are commonly implemented. Hundreds of directly connected megawatt-scale

power transmission networks has an increasing number of wind farms onshore and

offshore, which are operating power plants. According to Blaabjerg and Ma (2017), wind

power is starting to significantly affect how the current grid system operates as its level

of penetration into the system has started to rise significantly. Improved wind turbine

characteristics and increased suitability for grid integration are being achieved through

the introduction of advanced power electronics technology.

On the other hand, Tummala et al. (2016) entailed that a sustainable and

practical solution for producing renewable power is not just large-scale wind farms.

Installing a decentralized grid system, such as one that uses modest wind turbines, is

the best solution currently available. Around 10 kW of power is produced by small wind

turbines, more than enough for our household needs. By successfully using this energy,

a longer time span for the energy produced from conventional resources can be

achieved. Therefore, it is important to comprehend the features of small-scale wind

turbines.
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The energy harvested from the wind is considered a green power approach

because of its little negative environmental effects. It is a limitless form of energy that

may be gathered both on land and in the open ocean. According to Saidur et al. (2011),

this kind of energy will lower water use and environmental pollution. However, it has

detrimental effects on wildlife, visual interference, and noise pollution. If accompanied

by appropriate and supportive policies for wind energy and an in-depth awareness of its

environmental impact, wind power can serve as a green and environmentally friendly

alternative to fossil fuels.

Furthermore, governments and business organizations are paying close attention

to the usage of renewable energy sources, particularly wind power, as one amongst

alternative most competitive energy sources on the present energy transition that many

countries are establishing throughout the world. Due to its ability to lower greenhouse

gas emissions and to mitigate global warming, wind power is very significant. As stated

by Vargas et al. (2019), another benefit of wind power generation is that it helps nations

diversify their energy sources, which is crucial in those where hydropower makes up a

significant portion of the energy mix.

Moreover, a study of Asress et al. (2013) discusses that using wind energy to

generate electricity increases significantly globally. This makes it one of the most

economical sources of renewable energy. As a fossil fuel substitute, wind power is

expanding at a rate of thirty percent each year. In 2011, the generated electricity by

wind power globally increased from 196,653 MW in 2010 to approximately 239,000 MW

in 2011. So, continents such as Europe, Asia, and America use a lot of wind power.
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The most important discovery in the history of humanity is thought to be the

discovery of fire. There are a lot of applications for fires. Things like cooking were made

possible because of fire. It is also used to generate electricity, or, in other words,

thermal energy. Even before the existence of humans, thermal energy was already

present (Alva et al., 2018). According to Moya et al. (2018), compared to other types of

renewable energy sources, geothermal energy is difficult to harness, but it has the

potential to lessen greenhouse gas emissions as it exists naturally. One of the benefits

of direct use of geothermal energy is for industrial and domestic purposes.

Moreover, geothermal energy is the energy present naturally inside the earth and

is then extracted. The concept of utilizing it is easy, as it is just about directly using the

heat to produce electricity (Salazar et al., 2017). Additionally, according to Kulasekara

and Seynulabdeen (2019), because of the depletion of fossil fuels and their adverse

effects on the environment, the usage of renewable sources of energy, such as

geothermal energy, is increasing significantly. One renewable energy source that

operates well for producing electricity is geothermal energy. As a result, base-load

operations are a possibility for geothermal power facilities.

On a similar note, given its economic competitiveness in comparison to fossil fuel

energy sources, geothermal energy can deliver consistent and flexible electricity,

making it an important transition component of the low-carbon and renewable energy

systems worldwide. This is especially true for baseload demand. However, the

enlargement of geothermal projects is hindered by the long project development

durations of conventional power plants, which take an average of five to ten years, as

well as the significant risk of drilling unproductive wells, which prevents private
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investment and quick deployment. Despite having huge power generation potential,

geothermal energy is now responsible for less than 1% of the world's total electricity

producing capacity (Kabeyi & Olanrewaju, 2022).

Among emerging storage technologies, those that store electricity as thermal

energy are also considered highly promising because they do not rely on geological

constraints and offer long-lasting performance (Benato & Stoppato, 2019). Moreover,

the study of Ding (2018) highlights the active research in utilizing the Seebeck effect for

thermoelectric generators, which are scalable, stationary, and silent heat engines. This

study specifically explores the application aspect, primarily for intermittent power

generation using sources like solar energy and waste heat. It also suggests the

potential for using continuous heat sources, one of which is phase change materials,

geothermal heat, and solar ponds, for thermal-electrical energy conversion. The study

later introduces solar ponds as a source of low-grade heat, emphasizing their potential

applications, including power generation. The overall is that thermal-storage-based heat

sources, like solar ponds, have the potential for small-scale electricity generation

alongside their usual function of providing low-grade heat.

Another alternative source is the sun. The main significant source is the sun

which is an unbounded free energy, and the field of solar technology is currently

expanding quickly since methods for producing electricity from solar energy have

already been demonstrated and are being utilized often over the globe. According to a

study conducted by Kabir et al. (2018), solar energy is widely recognized as a reliable,

environmentally friendly, and sustainable form of energy. The utilization of this particular

energy source does not lead to the release of harmful gases or particles, which
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distinguishes it from traditional energy sources. In comparison to alternative renewable

energy sources, it exhibits superior characteristics in terms of availability, cost-

effectiveness, accessibility, capacity, and efficiency. Solar energy technology does have

several downsides, such as limited photovoltaic cell performance, weak balance-of-

systems (BOS) performance, institutional barriers, and economic challenges;

nonetheless, it is still one amongst the most promising sources of renewable energy to

fulfill future global energy demand.

In a study of Nadarajah and Vakeesan (2016), approximately 1.8×1014 kW of the

3.8×1023 kW of energy that the sun emits is catch by the globe, making solar energy

the most abundant renewable energy source. Many kinds of solar energy, including light

and heat, are absorbed by the earth. By way of scattering, reflection, and absorption by

clouds, the majority of this energy is lost while traveling. This implies that a solar energy

harvest during the day usually needs to be stored (either electrically or thermally) in

order to be used later in the evening. Since the rate of solar energy falling on the earth's

surface is 120 x 105 watts, Ahmadi et al. (2018) claims that the energy received by the

planet in one day from the sun may supply enough energy for the planet for over 20

years. Improvements of infrastructures in solar energy can increase the energy level of

security because solar energy is an energy source that is not dependent on imports.

On top of that, because of its great capacity, efficiency, and ability to store

energy, concentrated solar power technologies have a bright future in the production of

electricity (Hayat et al., 2018). Solar energy is directly utilized in agriculture as well,

primarily for irrigation and water treatment. Solar energy powers automobiles as well as

household equipment like space heaters and cookers. Solar energy has a promising
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future due to its outstanding technology and green credentials. However, its year-round

unavailability is what makes it the largest obstacle to solar energy’s future, which is

further complicated due to its high cost in capital and its short supply of PV cell

components. These obstacles can be resolved by innovating an affordable, effective,

and plentiful PV solar energy system and an efficient energy storage system.

Following this, starting in 2016, hydropower account for a notable proportion of

almost 71% of global renewable energy production, establishing itself as a predominant

source of renewable energy. The conversion of the underlying water energy into

mechanical energy is achieved by using a turbine, which subsequently undergoes a

conversion into electrical energy through the use of a generator, facilitating the

hydroelectric power generation. The US Army Core of Engineers started constructing

hydropower plants in the 1920s. However, as the construction of hydropower plants

increased, the same issues from the past were reoccurring, including the deterioration

of river ecosystems, the depletion of forests, the decline in biodiversity both in aquatic

and terrestrial environments, the emission of substantial quantities of greenhouse

gases, the displacement of numerous individuals, alterations to their lifestyles, and the

consequences on nearby food systems, water quality, and agricultural practices (Moran

et al., 2018).

The socioenvironmental effects of hydropower projects have slowed down

development over the last ten years, but the industry is now picking up pace. More than

150 countries in the globe generate hydropower, with the production of 32% of the

world’s hydropower in the Asia-Pacific sector in 2010. Numerous billions of people rely

on hydropower every day. Homes, workplaces, factories, hospitals, and schools are all
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powered by it. According to Bagher et al. (2015), hydroelectric energy is frequently one

of the first strategies a developing nation employs to provide accessible electricity to

rural areas.

Hydropower, being a significant renewable energy source, plays a substantial

role in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing the consequences

of global warming (Berga, 2016). Hydropower possesses the capacity to deliver a range

of crucial services to the power grid, beyond its primary function of energy generation.

Included in these services are load following, voltage support, frequency regulation,

backup reserves, and black start service. The stability of the system and reservation of

security are maintained in part by these services. Hydropower exhibits a notable

advantage in terms of its energy-payback ratio and minimal greenhouse gas emissions,

rendering it a highly cost-competitive option in comparison to alternative renewable

energy sources and thermal power (Killingtveit, 2019).

As suppose, hydroelectric power converts the inherent energy of water into

mechanical energy, which was at that point transformed to electric power with an

electric motor. In 63 nations, hydropower holds at least 50% of national electricity

output, and at least 90% in 23, according to a study by the International Journal on

Hydropower and Dams. About 10 nations, including Paraguay, Bhutan, Norway, and

several African countries, rely entirely on hydropower for their commercial electricity

needs. On critical observations, the operation of hydropower does not result in the

production of any direct pollutants or waste, and the greenhouse gas emissions

connected with the majority of lifecycle stages are insignificant. While they provided a

significant dependable power source as well as benefits for irrigation and flood control,
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there are various environmental issues that might arise as a result of such a major

intervention with river flows (Algburi & Sharma, 2016).

According to a study by Darmawi et al. (2013), hydropower is anticipated to

account for a larger portion of electricity produced from renewable energy. By far, over

2950 TWh of electric energy from hydropower is produced, accounting for producing

renewable energy of 90% and all-electric energy of 16% produced globally. This is

somewhat higher than nuclear power, whereabout 2771 TWh of energy was produced

within the same year. Hydropower has been demonstrated as the primary local

electricity source in a number of countries, including Canada with 60%, Brazil with 84%,

Switzerland with 55%, Iceland with 80%, and Norway that has 98%. Regretfully, the

hydropower’s potential around the world is not evenly distributed. In some rural areas of

developing countries, one amongst the major challenges is limited electricity. Since an

inadequate supply of electricity is a major issue, rainwater is an untapped source of

renewable energy. Miao and Jia (2014) suggests that in rural areas where electricity is

scarce, rainwater can be a way to harness electricity. Power density from rain can be

likened to solar and wind energy, but effective rain energy harvesting still needs

thorough examination.

The experimental study of Idros et al. (2023) is about electricity harvesting

through the use of rooftop rainwater. The 12-volt battery is charged due to the electricity

generated by the generator. The present study examines the effects of three primary

components within the experiment. Firstly, the investigation focuses on the torque range

of the generator. Secondly, the positions of the hydro turbines are considered,

specifically their placement at high and low elevations. Lastly, the presence of a rain
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buffer is examined. The comparison of generator torque involves the utilization of

various torque rates, while the positioning of the turbine involves two distinct locations,

namely high and low from the ground. Additionally, the flow of water through the pipe is

assessed by employing a ball valve. The findings of the experiment indicate that torque

rates exert a more substantial influence on the initial and final output values of the micro

hydro system.

A similar study conducted by Kanth et al. (2012) also focuses on the usage of

small hydropower projects for residential energy production in India using both domestic

resources and private investment. Turbines and generators have considerably

expanded hydroelectricity potential, converting over 80% of water energy into electricity.

Even though these small-scale projects only take up to 3% of the world’s hydropower

capacity, they are contributing to building renewable energy sources, especially in rural

areas. According to the study’s discovery, the potential or kinetic energy of falling water

has minimal promise for energy generation at modest sizes. Overall, harnessing

precipitation to produce energy can be utilized in specific circumstances to support

other technologies, but it is not an eternal solution.

According to Umar and Hussain (2015), hydropower is used as an energy source

in micro hydro power (MHP) plants and helps rural areas or developing regions. It offers

a long-term answer to the financial, environmental and economic problems of that area.

With no emissions and comparatively little environmental pollution, it can be a source of

new energy for the economy. Therefore, micro hydro plants offer a more practical and

sustainable source of energy for rural areas. Strengthen cooperation and proper
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installation of transformers is suggested in order for effective energy harvesting and to

avoid electrical issues.

Electricity is a very crucial need in our generation today, although, in rural areas

specifically in developing regions, the scarification of energy is among the major

problems. The lack of dependable energy prevents progress towards a sustainable

future by limiting not just access to essential services and economic development, but

also the continuation of social inequality. The analysis conducted by Munro and Schiffer

(2019) indicates that the concept of absolute power scarcity defined by IEA is limited

and fails to sufficiently consider the multifaceted nature of localized energy poverty.

Additionally, Alcott et al. (2016) also found that India's industry suffers from the same

problem about shortages of energy. Along with contributing to improving energy security

and resolving the issue of power generation, the use of renewable energy as an

alternative energy source helps to reduce environmental pollution (Halder et al., 2015).

The study's findings show that a dependable energy source has been difficult to come

by in rural areas, and that to be able to reduce the scarcity of energy (electricity),

innovative renewable energy sources are required.

Energy Consumption. Total energy consumed to carry out an action is referred

to as energy consumption. The amount of electricity consumed in a nation is a sign of

its level of socioeconomic development. Primary energy sources including coal, nuclear

energy, and hydropower are converted into electric energy (Niu et al., 2013). In the

Philippines, the study by Cabauatan and Tatlonghari (2017) hunt through into the

correlation between energy consumption and economic growth, with a specific

emphasis on the force of labor and formation of gross fixed capital. The findings indicate
 22

that the variables exhibit stationarity at first difference and cointegration, implying a

potential causal relationship in one direction. The growth hypothesis is substantiated by

the observation that between energy consumption and gross domestic product (GDP),

there exists a strong correlation. The study highlights the significance of prioritizing

energy security prior to shifting towards renewable energy, particularly in developing

nations such as the Philippines, in order to foster economic progress.

Additionally, the study of Shi et al. (2023), investigates the correlation between

social aging and energy usage in residential households, with a specific focus on

megacities. The researchers study the correlation between the energy consumption in

the clusters and different household characteristics in Shanghai. They utilized a finite

machine learning model to group together high-frequency consumption patterns in

households. The results show that as society grows, there will be a great impact on

energy consumption. Specifically, overall energy consumption will rise, and the hourly

consumption pattern will undergo significant changes. Consequently, this will result in a

more pronounced disparity between peak and non-peak periods.

The paper by Tang and Chen (2023) examined household energy consumption in

China from 2011 to 2019. They found out that the highest in terms of indirect energy

consumption is coal consumption, closely followed by electricity. The amount of coal

was decreasing, while there was a rise in electricity and natural gas. The majority of

total consumption was attributed to indirect energy consumption, specifically housing

consumption. It indicates in the findings of this study that urban areas experienced

higher rate of growth and accounted for a greater proportion of overall consumption.
 23

The observation reveals a clear disparity in energy usage extent and between the

structure of China’s urban and rural areas.

Other studies by Oliva and Kubota (2018) also discovered that, the amount of

energy consumed by households in both the slum settlements and the resettlement site

was found to be similar, through a survey conducted in Tacloban, Philippines, the

income level in the resettlement site did not experience any improvement when

compared to the existing slums. Cooking has the highest attributed energy consumption

in both existing slums and resettlement sites, with 71% and 74%, respectively. For this

reason, biomass is starting to be more widely used as an energy source by the

households at the resettlement site.

In a nationwide online survey by Attari et al. (2010), 505 participants were asked

about their energy consumption and conservation as they perform their daily activities in

relation to transportation, recycling, and household tasks. Most participants, when

asked to choose the most effective way to save energy, would rather concentrate on

constraints than on efficiency gains, which runs counter to the advice provided by

experts. People tend to underestimate the amount of energy savings and consumption

used for high energy activities and overestimate it for low-energy ones. It only showed

very little change that represented perceived energy usage and savings; some

participants with pro environmental opinions have accurate impressions of different

activities.

In further studies, in monitoring residential electricity consumption, we cannot

identify directly the usage of appliances in a household, we use the watt-hour meters at

the panel. This necessitates multiple meters, incurring high costs. To address this, the
 24

recent Non-Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (NIALM) approach offers a cost-

effective solution. The Adaptive Non-Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (ANIALM)

system is a tracker of every usage of energy in specific appliances that combines

intermittent data extraction with soft computing approaches. Experimental results

validate the ANIALM system’s ability to accurately identify appliance states. While both

recognizers demonstrate excellent generalization, the k-NNR approach within ANIALM

is preferred for its simplicity and efficiency in computation and implementation (Attari et

al., 2010).

Hence, based on the results of different studies, it shows evident that as society

ages, the overall energy consumption will rise, and the hourly consumption pattern will

undergo significant changes. It was also observed that metropolitan regions displayed a

more rapid pace of expansion and a greater proportion of overall consumption. Attari et

al. (2010) conducted a study examining the energy consumption patterns of the general

public. High-energy activities were importantly more underestimated, while low-energy

activities were somewhat overestimated. Furthermore, many studies were shown how

excessive energy consumption affects energy supply and demand, energy use

efficiency, and environmental protection. This results to prioritizing energy security

before moving toward renewable energy sources is valued.

Statement of the Problem

One of the major problems of households in a community is high power

consumption. Other than that, are the several power shortages in remote communities,

that causes inconvenience in daily routines. Because of this, some households are

struggling to pay their power bills and proceed with their significant activities.
 25

This study intends to provide an alternative renewable power source that can also be an

alternative solution to high power consumption cost of households.

Particularly, this intends to answer the succeeding questions:

1. How much voltage can be produced by liters of rainwater?

1.1 The force of the generated electricity in volts (V)

1.2 Number of watts that can be powered by the innovation

2. Does the innovation pass or fail the following tests in the given sets of

circuits?

2.1 1 light bulb with 3 watts and 1 charging device

2.2 1 light bulb with 5 watts and 1 charging device

2.3 2 light bulbs in parallel with 3 watts and 1 charging device

2.4 2 light bulbs in parallel with 3 and 5 watts, and 1 charging device

3. Is there a significant difference between the liters of water and the voltage

produced?

4. Is there a significant difference between the liters of water and the rate of

energy transferred to the light bulbs(watts)?

Null Hypothesis

H0 There is no significant difference between the liters of water and the voltage it

generated.

H0 There is no significant difference between the liters of water and the watts

powered by the system.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

 26

This study is all about the researchers' aims, which include creating an

innovation to store energy using rainwater as an alternative source and providing

beneficial causes to people in need. Moreover, to determine whether consumption of

conventional energy sources leads to increased electricity expenses, it follows that

reducing electricity bills is a possibility. This innovation will be experimented with in

Barangay Siocon, Compostela, Davao de Oro during the first half of the year 2024.

Nonetheless, the machine can be used by other barangays or provinces that are

experiencing the same issues.

This study focuses on developing a rainwater-powered generator as a substitute

energy and electricity source for the mentioned barangay. Covering at least 1 light bulb

having 3 watts and 1 charging device are factors affecting electricity consumption. This

study is delimited to the weather, such as the dry season or El Niño, as it is not under

the researchers' control. That results in below-average rainfall circumstances,

potentially leading to unanticipated dry spells and droughts. It also causes a decrease in

the quantity of energy stored, which affects the efficacy and function of the machine.

Therefore, the researchers could only afford to limit this study to Barangay Siocon,

Compostela, Davao de Oro.

Significance of the Study

This study contains real-life exploration and evaluation about the use of rainwater

as a potential substitute source of energy. We are convinced that this study will obtain

definite results which may benefit the factors listed below.

The Community. The study would help members of the community to utilize

rainwater as a renewable alternative source of energy. Thus, offering a supporting

 27

system for power supply and reducing the cost for power consumption.

Local Government Units (LGU). This study will encourage LGU's to take

practical steps, to ensure stable electricity for their communities, to reduce disruptions,

and to promote eco-friendly approaches. It promotes resilience in the face of shifting

energy needs and contributes to sustainable growth.

Future Researchers. The realization of this study would enlighten them to come

up with a more efficient system for an alternative energy source. In addition, they can

also use this paper as a related literature for their study.

Definition of Terms

In order to fully understand some difficult and most used terms, the researchers

defined them conceptually and operationally to give a clearer insight. Here are the

definitions:

Gutters- this refers to the component of the machine that is put along the edges

of the roof, channeling rainfall towards the storage and providing efficient utilization of

the water that is gathered.

Hydro-Electric Generator- a device that transforms mechanical energy from

flowing water into electrical power through a hydraulic turbine (Water Science School,

2018).

Pipe- this refers to the utilization of tubes as waterways that let precipitation pass

through the machine components to produce electricity.

Pressure- it is the applied force per unit area that is directed perpendicular to the

object's surface (Pressure and its Application, 2019).

 28

Rainwater- this refers to water droplets formed in the atmosphere with properties

that will be used to generate power through roof gutters.

Reservoir- this refers to a container used to store rainwater in order to generate

power, guaranteeing a consistent flow of gathered rainwater during periods of low or no

rainfall.
 CHAPTER II

METHODS

This paper aims to develop a supporting system for power supply and electricity

consumption with the use of rainwater as an alternative energy source. The chapter

presents the procedures and methodologies that will be applied throughout the

experimentation. The research design, locale of the study, research subjects, research

instruments, data collection procedure, data analysis, and statistical tools will be found

in this chapter.

Research Design

This study used a true experimental research design to set up techniques that

enable the researchers to evaluate the hypothesis and methodically examine variables.

A true experimental study depends on statistical analysis to validate or invalidate a

researcher’s hypothesis. It is a highly precise study as it offers particular scientific

evidence. Furthermore, only a true experimental design can establish a cause-and-

effect link within a group (Bhat, 2023). The researchers can establish cause-and-effect

correlations most conclusively by using an experimental research design to assess the

effectiveness of rainwater electric generator. This approach involves manipulating

variables, such as installing and testing the gutters under controlled conditions, allowing

for a more rigorous analysis of their impact on the desired outcome.

A true experimental study design entails manipulating one variable to see how it

affects another. To ensure that the manipulated variable is actually what caused the

observed effect, the researcher strictly controls all other factors. Experimental research
 28

gathers information that can be used to make better decisions. Furthermore, this

method accessibly helps the researchers by displaying sustainable household energy

sources as efficient solutions for power difficulties.

Research Locale

Davao de Oro is a province in the Davao region of the Philippines with 11

municipalities and 237 barangays. One of its municipalities is Compostela, a first-class

municipality having a population of 89,884, with a density of 313 inhabitants per square

kilometer or 811 inhabitants per square mile, in accordance with the 2020 census. The

municipality of Compostela has 16 barangays, and the study is conducted in one of

those, Barangay Siocon. In the 2020 census, there were a total of 3,724 Siocon

residents, which accounted for 4.14% of the total population of Compostela. The

household population of the barangay was 3,503, broken down into 843 households,

with an average of 4.16 members per household.

The locality of the study was decided to be at Siocon, Compostela as the

researchers have realized that there are a lot of electrical difficulties faced by the

community, such as the shortage of electricity supply and the high expenses that come

with power consumption. Notably, there is a constant disruption of power supply in the

barangay, specifically in times of mild to strong winds and rain. The researchers focused

on the concerns and challenges faced by the residents with electricity and aim to make

a rain generator system that can provide beneficial causes to people with electrification-

related problems.
 29

Figure 1. Location Map of Barangay Siocon, Compostela, Davao de Oro

 30

Research Subject

The rainwater electric gutter that will be used as a supplementary electricity

system is assessed in the matter of how efficient and promising it is for the inhabitants

of Barangay Siocon, Compostela, where frequent power outages are constantly

experienced, and how it can provide convenience in the residents' daily activities. The

materials, including both new and recycled things, are purchased from local vendors

and hardware stores located in Nabunturan and Compostela.

Research Instruments

The researchers used a research instrument named a multimeter. Multimeters

are tools designed to know the current, resistance, and voltage produced by an object.

In this study, the researchers used the multimeter to test the current and voltage

produced by the invention, specifically the rainwater electric gutters. Then with those

two, we were able to determine the watts present.

Table 1. Instrument

Making of the diorama Making of the waterway Making the hydroelectric

house generator
 1x8 Wood Sticks  Pipe Gutter  Turbine
 5mm Plywood  Water Pipes  Battery
 Corrugated  Reservoir  Wires
Roofing Sheet  Inverter
 Boost Converter

Name Description Illustration

Making the diorama

house
 31

 1x8 Wood Sticks It is used as the skeletal

structure of the house.

It is used as the wall of the

 5mm Plywood house.

 Corrugated Used as a roof and as a

Roofing Sheet collector of rainwater.

Making of the waterway

 Pipe gutter It is connected to the

sprockets to produce a
rotation and bring the
improvised scraper up.
 32

Used as a waterway of
rainwater from the gutter to
 Water pipes the generator.

It is used to store rainwater

to build enough pressure for
 Reservoir the turbine to spin.
 33

Making the hydroelectric

generator

This is used for electricity

 Turbine generation. It converts the
mechanical energy of falling
rainwater to electricity.

It is used to store the

 Battery
electricity from the
generator.

 Wires Used to connect the

equipment

Used to convert direct

 Inverter current to alternating
current
 34

 Boost Converter It is for amplifying the volts

generated by the turbine to
charge the battery

Data Collection Procedure

Experiment is the data gathering procedure used in this study. In this study, the

independent variable would be the invention, which is the rainwater electric generator,

and the dependent variable would be its suitability as an energy source. In addition,

since the research happens in a field and researchers cannot control all the variables,

field experiment is used. Further, to determine the durability of the innovation, life cycle

testing was applied. This type of durability test pertains to testing the innovation for a

certain number of times and determining whether the innovation still works (PEKO

Precision Products, 2021). To gather the data, the listed steps are performed to make

an alternative energy source that might help with the existing electrical challenges.

This study is being conducted to find out the efficiency of rainwater from gutters

as a supplementary system for power supply. During the process of collecting data, it is
 35

crucial to obtain valid results and ensure that researchers exercise appropriate caution

to prevent errors and accidents.

I. Before starting with building the system, the researchers need to find hardware

stores that have the materials needed at a reasonable cost.

II. The next step involves creating a model of the rainwater electric gutters, which is

made through the following steps:

1. Making of the diorama house

2. Set up a waterway connected to the diorama house

3. Building the hydroelectric generator system and linking it up to the waterway

4. Wire up some light bulbs and an outlet for the charging device

III. In the third step, the researchers gathered rainwater and stored it in a container.

IV. The fourth step is where the researchers apply the model to a real house.

V. In the fifth step, the researchers used rainwater and exploited it to utilize the

system.

VI. In the sixth step, for the durability of the innovation, the researchers used life

cycle testing to test its strength.

VII. Then, in measuring the voltage of the generator and the current, the researchers

used a multimeter to get the data.

VIII. After getting the voltage and current, the amount of wattage in the circuit is now

calculated by the researchers. Hence, the data is recorded and evaluated with

the use of one-way ANOVA to determine the innovation's long-term effects.

36
 37

Figure 2. Image of the Rainwater-Powered Generator

 38

Data Analysis

To conduct this kind of research, the researchers used field experimentation to

collect enough numeric data for analysis. The necessary factors are methods of

collecting rainwater for the generator and using a multimeter as an essential tool to

measure the voltage, current, and watts. After data collection, the researchers

performed a detailed analysis and validation of the data to guarantee its authenticity and

reliability. In order to determine whether rain from gutters might supply a new source of

energy, the researchers employed the statistical tool ANOVA, or Analysis of Variance. In

doing so, the researchers may be able to assess the feasibility and sustainability of the

different liters of stored rainwater, as well as its generated power, which is an additional

means of having electricity.

Statistical Tool

The collected data are tabulated and tallied in order to provide results for the

study’s interpretation and conclusion. The accuracy of the results was ensured by using

the following tool, which was specifically designed for this purpose.

MST
F=
MSE

The researchers have utilized one-way ANOVA which is represented by this

equation. This equation has been used to ascertain the means of 5 groups of 1

independent variable towards a dependent variable.

 39

CHAPTER III

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the results and discussion of the study into the feasibility of

a rainwater-powered generator to generate electricity. Included are the voltage, watts,

and volume of rainwater for machinery use.

Table 2. Voltage generated by liters of rainwater

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Mean

Liters
(Voltage) (Voltage) (Voltage) (Voltage) (Voltage) (Voltage)
10 7.68 7.51 7.61 7.55 7.55 7.58

15 8.86 8.87 8.24 8.50 8.18 8.53

20 10.4 9.62 9.83 9.72 9.85 9.88

Table 2 shows the mean of the voltage generated in 5 tests. The mean in 10

liters is 7.84 V; 15 liters showed a mean of 8.53 V; and in 20 liters, the mean is 9.88 V.

These data show that as the amount of rainwater increases, the voltage produced also

increases. As mentioned by Sahara et al. (2020), the volume of water affects the

behavior of the turbine. Subsequently, the behavior of the turbine affects the voltage

produced as the micro hydro systems and their starting and ultimate voltage output are

remarkably influenced by the water’s rotation (Idros et al., 2023). In simple terms, the

table proves that as the volume of rainwater increases, it will highly impact the turbine’s

rotation, which will also cause the generated voltage to increase.

 40

Table 3. Watts generated by liters of rainwater

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Mean

Liters
(Watts) (Watts) (Watts) (Watts) (Watts) (Watts)
10 1.67 1.63 1.55 1.64 1.64 1.62
15 1.94 1.94 1.79 1.86 1.78 1.86
20 2.29 2.11 2.15 2.12 2.16 2.17

Table 3 shows the watts in 5 tests, as well as their mean. 10 liters generated a

mean of 1.62 W. 15 liters show a mean of 1.86 W, and 20 liters show a mean of 2.17 W.

These data show that as the volume of liters increases, the watts also increase. As

specified in the study by Wong et al. (2017), the volume of water greatly affects the

watts or power generated by the electricity. In addition, the study by Li et al. (2020)

discussed how the amount of precipitation affects the wattage generated by a micro

hydroelectric generator. Factors such as the duration of the rain do not affect it greatly,

but rather the volume of rainwater. Similar to the results shown in Table 2, this proves

that the wattage varies directly with the amount of rainwater.

Table 3.1. Obtained Ampere for the Watts calculation

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5
Liters (L) Milliampere Milliampere Milliampere Milliampere Milliampere
(mA) (mA) (mA) (mA) (mA)
10 217.30 216.95 217.14 217.01 216.97
15 218.6 218.9 217.64 218.60 217.54
20 220 219.09 219.20 218.20 219.45

This table shows the ampere obtained through the use of a multimeter; an

element used to calculate the wattage shown in the previous table. The calculation was

done by multiplying the obtained ampere by the obtained voltage in Table 2 for each

test.
 41

Table 4. Tests in the given sets of circuits

Circuit Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

1 light bulb with 3 watts and 1 charging

device Passed Passed Passed

1 light bulb with 3 watts and 1 charging

device Passed Passed Passed

2 light bulbs in parallel with 3 watts and

1 charging device Passed Passed Passed

2 light bulbs in parallel with 3 and 5

watts, and 1 charging device Passed Passed Passed

The innovation powered the following circuits in each experiment. Over a course

of three tests, all four sets of circuits passed. This shows that the idea of using rainwater

as a source of electricity is a feasible one. A study by Fernando et al. (2021) points out

that using a micro generator inside pipes can produce a significant amount of electricity.

Moreover, Amin et al. (2024) found that with this type of innovation, it can power a small

house and potentially solve the power crisis most communities experience. Due to the

fact that the generated energy is stored in a battery, the system will most likely distribute

it evenly to the connecting circuits; hence, it is able to power these varying conditions.

This would mean that as long as there is enough energy stored in the battery, the

system will be able to power small household items, showing great potential to become

a substitute in the house energy section.

 42

Table 5. One-way ANOVA of the liters of rainwater and the voltage produced

ANOVA
Voltage
Sum of df Mean F Sig. (P)
Post Hoc Tests
Squares Square
Multiple Comparisons
Between
13.407
Dependent Variable: voltage 2 6.704 98.518 .000
Groups
Turkey HSD
Within Groups .817 Difference
Mean 12 .068
(I) liters (J) liters Std. Error Sig. (P)
(I – J)
Total 14.224 14
20 liters 15 liters 1.35400* .16505 .000
10 liters 2.30600* .16505 .000

15 liters 20 liters -1.35400* .16505 .000

10 liters .95200* .16505 .000

10 liters 20 liters -2.30600* .16505 .000

15 liters -.95200* .16505 .000

Table 5 shows the difference between the different liters of rainwater and their

produced voltage using one-way ANOVA. In this statistical method, researchers should

obtain a significance level or p value of less than 0.05 to indicate that there is a

significant difference between variables. And since the obtained significance level

is .000, this proves that there is a noticeable difference between the liters of rainwater

and the voltage produced. Similar to the study conducted by Dorji et al. (2021) involving

high-rise buildings and rainwater to generate electricity, it shows that these types of

systems do have big potential as they can exert large amount of electricity. In support to

that, the amount of voltage produced differs from in every liter available because the
 43

water pressure from accumulated water leads to generate more voltage (Sahara et al.,

2020).

Table 6. One-way ANOVA of the liters of rainwater and the watts produced

ANOVA
Watts
Sum of df Mean F Sig. (P)
Post Hoc Tests Squares Square
Between Multiple Comparisons
.733 2 .366 82.777 .000
Groups
Dependent Variable: watts
TurkeyGroups
Within HSD .053 12 .004
Mean Difference
(I) liters
Total (J) liters Std. Error Sig. (P)
(I.786
– J) 14

20 liters 15 liters .30520* .04166 .000

10 liters .54176* .04166 .000

15 liters 20 liters -.30520* .04166 .000

10 liters .23656* .04166 .000

10 liters 20 liters -.54176* .04166 .000

15 liters -.23656* .04166 .000

Table 6 shows the difference between the watts produced in 10 liters, 15 liters,

and 20 liters. With the collected data, a p-value of .000 was obtained, which proves that

there is a significant difference between the watts produced in 10 liters, 15 liters, and 20

liters of rainwater. Similarly, Wong et al. (2017) discussed how the volume of rainwater

affects the watts produced. In addition, a study by Habib and Seng (2018) stated that

the height of the water source affects the overall generated electricity due to the water

pressure. Their study also states that the volume of water greatly affects the generated
 44

electricity when generating electricity compared to other factors. Overall, these studies

discuss how the volume of rainwater affects the watts generated.

Therefore, the results from the data gathered prove that the rainwater-powered

generator is efficient in generating electricity. The data also showed that the innovation

can generate a sufficient amount of voltage and wattage using rainwater as its source.

Hence, utilizing rainwater to generate electricity is efficient, especially when utilized with

large volumes of rainwater.

CHAPTER IV

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The summary of the study's findings, conclusion, and recommendations are

presented in this chapter.

Summary
 45

1. To measure its efficiency, the researchers tested five experiments in every liter of

water with the rainwater-powered generator. The average voltage was 7.84 V in

10 L of rainwater, while the 15 L and 20 L produced 8.53 V and 9.88 V

respectively. These data show that voltage increase in proportion to the water’s

volume. Moreover, using similar experimentation to get the wattage in each

number of liters, the researchers found an average of 1.62 W for 10 liters, 1.86 W

for 15 liters, and 2.17 W for 20 liters of water. The result indicates that there is a

correlation between the volume of water and the wattage produced.

2. The researchers ran three tests and experimented with four different circuit

setups to figure out which type of circuit this innovation works with. These tests

have been carried out in order to determine whether the innovation can operate

or fail on any type of circuit setup. A single light bulb with 3 watts and one

charging device, the first circuit setup, passed. The second, with a single light

bulb with 5 watts and one charging device, passed. Together with two light bulbs

connected to 3 watts and one charging device, the third circuit setup, passed. In

addition, the fourth circuit with two light bulbs in parallel with 3 and 5 watts and

one charging device, also

 46

passed. Over a course of three tests, all four sets of circuit passed. The data

show that it is feasible to use rainwater as alternative energy source of electricity.

3. One way ANOVA was used by the researchers. An f value of 98.518 and a p

value of .000 are shown for the average voltage obtained from 10L, 15L, and 20L

of rainwater. This indicate that there is a significant difference between the mean

voltage generated and the volume of water. Furthermore, an f value of 82.777

and a p value of .000 are shown for the average wattage obtained from the 10L,

15L, and 20L. This show that there is significant difference between the mean

wattage generated and the volume of water.

Conclusion

The researchers carried out experiments and proved the mean voltage and watts

in the electric generator driven by rainwater to be 7.58 V and 1.62 W in 10 liters, 8.53 V

and 1.86 W in 15 liters, and 9.88 V and 2.17 W in 20 liters. It is observable from the

data that an increasing amount of rainwater produces different levels of volts and watts.

This means that there is a significant difference in the amount of rainwater and the

voltage and wattage that it generates. Moreover, it showed that a rainwater-powered

electric generator has the potential to become a substitute in the house energy section.

Specifically, the 20 liters of rainwater have produced more volts and watts than lesser-

scale ones. From this, the researchers concluded that using a large amount of rainwater

can increase the efficiency of the rainwater-powered electric generator. Having this

system as a support for electricity production helps in terms of power outages and

consumption.
Recommendations

The study revealed that the rainwater from gutters has the potential as a

supporting system for power supply and electricity consumption, making it as an

alternative source of energy. Thus, the following recommendations are hereby

suggested:

1. The effectiveness of using rainwater as a source of electricity has been proven.

Therefore, significant people who could benefit from the innovation should take

charge of learning and utilizing the system for better support in terms of electricity

scarcity and electricity consumption.

2. For future researchers, they could get some ideas from this paper towards more

effective methods to create this kind of system and maximize its results. The

researchers must know the effectiveness of this innovation to find out how it

would be used, whether they can obtain any new methods that have not yet been

tried, and whether changes to the previous research are required.

3. Since there are many components that could affect the innovation’s level of

efficiency, this may lead them to create a similar system, but with the reservoir

placed much higher. The height between the reservoir and the turbine holds an

essential role in the pressure of falling rainwater. The pressure could make the

turbine run faster and, therefore, produce a larger amount of energy.

4. Future researchers could also test how long the system can support and power

small household appliances, such as light bulbs and charging devices, since

duration is a factor that was not tested by the researchers in this paper. Doing so

would add more numerical data and provide clarity about the system’s efficiency.
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Ming, T. (2018). Solar power technology for electricity generation: A critical
review. Energy Science & Engineering, 6(5), 340–361.
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