Danish design studio Difuss has introduced solar-powered handbag for girls containing about 100 smaller monocrystalline silicon solar cells on the surface of the bag resembles of beads. Handbag designed in a way display copper wiring and solar cell panels for maximum sun exposure. The energy generated is transferred to the lithium-ion batteries hidden in a small compartment in the bag. It can easily charge mobile devices in the bag.
The IllumiCharger by Ryan Hess collect and store energy of interior lighting to provide free charging for USB devices in the same way that the solar powered calculators power themselves.
Designed by Eric and Jim, The Solar Vox is environmentally friendly way to charge all your USB devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, iPods, PSP’s and DS’s. Plug in the devices using the USB chord and sat on a small tray under the solar panels that sit on top. It has user replaceable batteries and no proprietary connectors. The device also sports a design that will make it easy assembly and disassembly.
Strawberry Tree is designed by Strawberry Energy, a business group of Serbian student-entrepreneurs. It is a solar powered charging booth for mobile phones, cameras and even MP3 players.
Strawberry Tree uses solar panels on top and Lithium batteries make this recharging device can still be used at night. In the middle, there are various types of connections adjusted with the type of gadgets and it is also equipped with chair so we can sit and chat while waiting for the battery recharging process.
Designed by Tracy Subisak, Donn Koh & Herlinda, reNew Solar Powered Charger is another type of battery charger for your re-chargeable batteries. It is simple to use to harness the power of the sun, just simply attached to windows via suction cup. It looks like the neat decorative frame that hangs on your window or sitting pretty on the table. Toss the battery in the top portion of back frame, into the charging pocket protector, and when it’s all fully charged, pluck it out from the bottom of the frame.
Great news for all who want to utilize solar power for their laptops. The Generator by Voltaic Systems is the first solar bag powerful enough to charge a laptop. This solar powered laptop charger has a high-efficiency solar cells (20%), produces 15 watts and charge up the battery in as little as five hours. What really fast compared to other solar bags on the market. And including custom designed battery packs for efficiently store and convert the electricity generated. It will also charge cell phones and most other handheld electronics.
Seating is the main purpose of a bench. However, modern people do something more on the bench. Waiting for someone to become one of the new functions. Design of bench freed itself from tradition. This is a new approach of thinking what the bench is. While the traditional role, this bench becomes WiFi hot-spots and night-lighting with a thin film solar battery. In addition, made of aluminum and recycling plastic considered eco-issues.
Dexim has launched five new accessories for use with iPod, iPhone and the BlackBerry at CES 2010. One of the more intelligent offers are solar P-Flip. It can be flipped vertically or horizontally for hands-free viewing and can extend talk time up to eight hours.
Solar Vest CVFR-S09 is designed for your comfort and convenience. It comes with a large storage pockets to store tools or equipment including cameras and batteries + cables and connectors for all currently popular portable electronic. Canvas vest is soft but durable.
Vest that consists of 4 laminated solar panels to be completely weatherproof, so you do not need to change this vest just because of bad weather. You also may remove the solar panels and placing them in the sun while you work in a cave or a shaded field.
As you walk outside, the four solar panels on the back of the vest absorbs solar energy and store it in a high-capacity battery is located in the front left pocket. If your phone or other gadgets need power, just plug it into the battery and allow it charged. Simple as that!
The Solar Vest – Solar Battery + Charger for Portable Electronics is available at Chinavasion website. The price offered about $ 140 USD.
Adventures in microsolar supported by microelectronics and MEMS techniques
Representative thin crystalline-silicon photovoltaic cells – these are from 14 to 20 micrometers thick and 0.25 to 1 millimeter across.
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used.
The tiny cells could turn a person into a walking solar battery charger if they were fastened to flexible substrates molded around unusual shapes, such as clothing.
The solar particles, fabricated of crystalline silicon, hold the potential for a variety of new applications. They are expected eventually to be less expensive and have greater efficiencies than current photovoltaic collectors that are pieced together with 6-inch- square solar wafers.
The cells are fabricated using microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques common to today’s electronic foundries.
Sandia lead investigator Greg Nielson said the research team has identified more than 20 benefits of scale for its microphotovoltaic cells. These include new applications, improved performance, potential for reduced costs and higher efficiencies.
“Eventually units could be mass-produced and wrapped around unusual shapes for building-integrated solar, tents and maybe even clothing,” he said. This would make it possible for hunters, hikers or military personnel in the field to recharge batteries for phones, cameras and other electronic devices as they walk or rest.
Sandia project lead Greg Nielson holds a solar cell test prototype with a microscale lens array fastened above it. Together, the cell and lens help create a concentrated photovoltaic unit.
Even better, such microengineered panels could have circuits imprinted that would help perform other functions customarily left to large-scale construction with its attendant need for field construction design and permits.
Said Sandia field engineer Vipin Gupta, “Photovoltaic modules made from these microsized cells for the rooftops of homes and warehouses could have intelligent controls, inverters and even storage built in at the chip level. Such an integrated module could greatly simplify the cumbersome design, bid, permit and grid integration process that our solar technical assistance teams see in the field all the time.”
For large-scale power generation, said Sandia researcher Murat Okandan, “One of the biggest scale benefits is a significant reduction in manufacturing and installation costs compared with current PV techniques.”
Part of the potential cost reduction comes about because microcells require relatively little material to form well-controlled and highly efficient devices.
From 14 to 20 micrometers thick (a human hair is approximately 70 micrometers thick), they are 10 times thinner than conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch brick-sized cells, yet perform at about the same efficiency.
100 times less silicon generates same amount of electricity
“So they use 100 times less silicon to generate the same amount of electricity,” said Okandan. “Since they are much smaller and have fewer mechanical deformations for a given environment than the conventional cells, they may also be more reliable over the long term.”
Another manufacturing convenience is that the cells, because they are only hundreds of micrometers in diameter, can be fabricated from commercial wafers of any size, including today’s 300-millimeter (12-inch) diameter wafers and future 450-millimeter (18-inch) wafers. Further, if one cell proves defective in manufacture, the rest still can be harvested, while if a brick-sized unit goes bad, the entire wafer may be unusable. Also, brick-sized units fabricated larger than the conventional 6-inch-by-6-inch cross section to take advantage of larger wafer size would require thicker power lines to harvest the increased power, creating more cost and possibly shading the wafer. That problem does not exist with the small-cell approach and its individualized wiring.
From left to right, Sandia researchers Murat OKandan, Greg Nielson, and Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, hold samples containing arrays of microsolar cells.
Other unique features are available because the cells are so small. “The shade tolerance of our units to overhead obstructions is better than conventional PV panels,” said Nielson, “because portions of our units not in shade will keep sending out electricity where a partially shaded conventional panel may turn off entirely.”
Because flexible substrates can be easily fabricated, high-efficiency PV for ubiquitous solar power becomes more feasible, said Okandan.
A commercial move to microscale PV cells would be a dramatic change from conventional silicon PV modules composed of arrays of 6-inch-by-6-inch wafers. However, by bringing in techniques normally used in MEMS, electronics and the light-emitting diode (LED) industries (for additional work involving gallium arsenide instead of silicon), the change to small cells should be relatively straightforward, Gupta said.
Each cell is formed on silicon wafers, etched and then released inexpensively in hexagonal shapes, with electrical contacts prefabricated on each piece, by borrowing techniques from integrated circuits and MEMS.
Offering a run for their money to conventional large wafers of crystalline silicon, electricity presently can be harvested from the Sandia-created cells with 14.9 percent efficiency. Off-the-shelf commercial modules range from 13 to 20 percent efficient.
A widely used commercial tool called a pick-and-place machine — the current standard for the mass assembly of electronics — can place up to 130,000 pieces of glitter per hour at electrical contact points preestablished on the substrate; the placement takes place at cooler temperatures. The cost is approximately one-tenth of a cent per piece with the number of cells per module determined by the level of optical concentration and the size of the die, likely to be in the 10,000 to 50,000 cell per square meter range. An alternate technology, still at the lab-bench stage, involves self-assembly of the parts at even lower costs.
Solar concentrators — low-cost, prefabricated, optically efficient microlens arrays — can be placed directly over each glitter-sized cell to increase the number of photons arriving to be converted via the photovoltaic effect into electrons. The small cell size means that cheaper and more efficient short focal length microlens arrays can be fabricated for this purpose.
High-voltage output is possible directly from the modules because of the large number of cells in the array. This should reduce costs associated with wiring, due to reduced resistive losses at higher voltages.
Other possible applications for the technology include satellites and remote sensing.
The project combines expertise from Sandia’s Microsystems Center; Photovoltaics and Grid Integration Group; the Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies Group; and the National Renewable Energy Lab’s Concentrating Photovoltaics Group.
Involved in the process, in addition to Nielson, Okandan and Gupta, are Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul Resnick, Tammy Pluym, Peggy Clews, Carlos Sanchez, Bill Sweatt, Tony Lentine, Anton Filatov, Mike Sinclair, Mark Overberg, Jeff Nelson, Jennifer Granata, Craig Carmignani, Rick Kemp, Connie Stewart, Jonathan Wierer,
George Wang, Jerry Simmons, Jason Strauch, Judith Lavin and Mark Wanlass (NREL).
The work is supported by DOE’s Solar Energy Technology Program and Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research & Development program, and has been presented at four technical conferences this year.
The ability of light to produce electrons, and thus electricity, has been known for more than a hundred years.
The iPetals is a pleasant concept design for an iPhone chargers. The iPetals is a special solar chargers that impresses us with its specific and pleasant design. While designing the iPetals chargers, the designer was inspired by Fandi Mengs Sunny Flower concept. As well running as a chargers, the iPetals also runs as a base for your iPhone. Each petal expands to build a pleasant flower design. What is more another, every petal is colored with various lightness to make this chargers a special look.
Harnessing the biggest source of free energy in the whole solar arrangement, the Sun, the “Solar Lamp” by Mike Hages is an environment friendly lighting that other than lighting your desktop or study table as well doubles as a power source for your portable appliances. The lamp contains a photovoltaic panel to charge the battery, at the base, applying ambient sunlight. A power input allows card power supplement the power from the solar energy panel when battery charging or supply an secondary power source, in case the batteries run out during night hours. While a power output lets the user to connect another rechargeable devices to the Solar Lamp for charging over solar panel. Both power connectors apply USB-mini format to let compatibility with a number of existing adapters and to let charging via a laptop or other device.
The Solar Lamp is designed to allow the user with the means to easily customise and enhance available light. The portable design creates it a natural trip fellow for a laptop, and the utilise of rechargeable battery power ways that the Solar Lamp’s utilisation isn’t limited by the availability or accessibility of a wall outlet. By integrating the solar panel for recharging, the Solar Lamp is capable to further free itself from electric cords and outlets while getting advantage of free, renewable energy for charging itself and other devices. The light source includes an array of 12 LED lights and would rather include both yellow and blue LEDs to supply a balanced light.
Solar products are easily installed and do not require any wire hookup. You can move them around as the seasons change or as you experiment with different looks to your garden, paths, flowerbeds, pool, deck or dock. Consider solar powered path lights for a beautiful incandescent effect on your garden path. How about some gentle solar garden lights for the highlights in your garden – or a cluster of solar light sticks for a beautiful effect. Solar patio lights make your outdoor gathering space warm and inviting and most come with both amber and white light settings. Solar pool lights create an exquisite effect as they float on either pool or pond, throwing a soft glow onto the water’s surface. Solar power can also do the job when more direct lighting is required: for instance a solar flood light provides strong illumination for security and solar post lights provide a classic look but can also provide strong white light if needed.
Solar products are innovative mechanisms that help conserve energy, thus, help maintain the ecosystem. Solar products are environmentally friendly and are usually cost effective as well. Today, there are several solar power products in the market for our home and office use. Solar products include items such as solar hot water heaters, solar heating systems, solar panels, solar flashlights, small radios, solar calculators, solar battery chargers, solar lanterns, solar lighting, solar car batteries and much more.
Solar products are perfect for campers, hikers or anyone who spends lots of time outdoors. Thin-film photovoltaic technology is perfect for charging many consumer products, solar cell designs are a proven success currently being used in space, military equipment, and large grid systems.
Solar products are currently growing at over 25% annually. Sales of thin film solar products are growing at over 33% annually. Most analysts project that thin film solar markets will continue to grow faster than traditional silicon wafer markets. In order for the solar industry to supply the amount of solar product needed to meet market demand, exponential growth rates will become endemic for at least the next decade.
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Executive Summary about Solar Film by Christine Douglas
You feel compelled to use solar energy, but at this time you simply aren’t in the position to install a solar power system in your home for one reason or another. Solar film for windows is a cost-effective, yet efficient way to participate in passive solar heating.
Solar film for windows is a light film that is applied to the windows in your home. It rejects 60% of the sun’s rays coming through your home. The first reason is energy.
Solar film for windows is great for many other reasons. It blocks 99% of UV rays, keeping your furniture and home décor safe from fading. The film also protects against weather damage.
Solar film for windows is widely available. You can purchase frosted solar film, creating the look of frosted glass at a fraction of the cost.
Using Window Film and Shades to Protect Your Home Interior From the Sun
Executive Summary about Solar Film by David Kraft
Home builders are reporting a higher frequency of larger and higher quantities of windows in new homes and home remodels being done. Rays from the sun can cause glare, hot spots, and fading to household items. One way to prevent these things from happening is to add a layer of window film to your windows. Window film can help to improve heating and cooling efficiency and block UV rays that cause fading to furniture, carpet, and other interior possessions. Film is available in tints that are not drastically change the color of the window but will still accomplish the goals of blocking the sun’s harmful rays. The key to window films is to have them properly installed by a specialist to ensure multiple years of functionality.
Solar screen shades are an alternative to window film that can accomplish the same things. They are available in varying levels of opacity and are available in motorized models that completely roll up nearly out of sight to allow homeowners to completely enjoy their large windows when they want to. Solar screen shades are simple, yet attractive ways to protect your homes interior and are available in a variety of colors that will enhance the appeal of any interior, regardless of design preference.
Choosing larger or higher quantities of windows in your home opens you up to more risk for faded interior and decreases in your home’s heating and cooling system efficiency.
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Executive Summary about Solar House by Ernest Jarquio
Environmentalists rejoice! What is this new technology that will help save the earth? Why, solar house plans of course.
What Are Solar House Plans?
Well, the new phase in home planning is the plan for a sun-powered home.
Environmentally-Friendly Materials
The designer begins by drawing out the floor plan, planing to use recycled materials, eco-friendly building supplies and Energy-Star electrical outlets. For instance, the concrete slab flooring stores solar heat during the sunny days, then releases it at night, keeping the house warm.
Insulation
The designer uses only eco-friendly items for these tasks, such as recycled wood and green material for the insulation. After all this is planned, they continue onward to Energy-Star appliances and other electronic devices.
Solar Panels
The other panels installed are the thermal water heaters, which provide hot water constantly for the entire home. This hot water is often more reliable than a traditional hot water heater, supplying plenty of heat for the laundry, kitchen and bath.
How to Plan Your House for the Sun
Executive Summary about Solar House by Naomi Kendell
Every house will gain heat throughout the day as the sun shines through its windows.
And during the night as the temperature drops, this same house will lose heat to the outside through its walls, windows and roof.
1. Orientation.
By facing your house to the south (in the northern hemisphere) you will gain the rays of the winter sun. Afternoon sun comes from the west, so rooms like the dining room and living room can be placed on this orientation. The southwest corner of the house will be the sunniest – winter and afternoon sun.
On the northern side of your house, place service rooms.
2. Window Sizing
Out of all the materials your house is made of, windows lose the most heat. There is a balance here, because windows allow sunlight into your house. However even triple glazed glass allows more heat to escape than a well insulated wall.
The first is where your windows face. If you have most of your windows on the northern side, these windows will not get much sun during winter. They will be losing heat, but not gaining solar energy.
There is an optimal ratio of windows:wall for every climate. For instance in temperate climates, a window to wall ration could be: 30% window area to 70% wall area. The other ratio is in windows and orientation.
3. Materials
For instance, highly insulated walls will keep the heat inside your house. When analyzing your heat loss through your windows, you can gain some leeway through insulation. This air forms and insulating layer, slowing down heat loss.
Another way to use materials in your solar house plan is to take advantage of heat storage. It is radiating heat. The floor is insulated underneath to prevent heat loss. A well designed thermal heat sink will stay warm all night long.
4. Shading
Shading is an important part of the solar house plan. This is important not only for heat gains, but for preventing heat gains. In temperate climates as well, shading can be used to keep summer sun out and let winter sun in.
Using our orientation principle: your house is facing south. During the winter the sun angles low and reaches far into the house. This same shading will allow winter sun into your house.
Your latitude effects the angle of the winter sun. In conclusion – solar house plans are a great way to design houses that are warm and comfortable to live in, and save you money off your heating and air conditioning bill.
Using Orientation, Window Placement, Materials and Shading, you can design a house that responds to its environment and creates its own micro-climate of comfort.
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