Researchers project that solar power is expected to reach 10% of global power generation by the year 2030, and many of these solar farms are located in desert areas, where things can get quite dusty to say the least. If too much dust gathers on the panels, they can reduce the output of photovoltaic panels by as much as 30% in 30-days, so keeping them clean is of the utmost importance. However, cleaning them the traditional way uses up to 10 billion gallons of water per year.
If money is no object, a luxurious sprinter van conversion or expedition vehicle may be an option for those seeking to live off-the-grid, but for everyone else, they need to get creative. Creativity is exactly what Jojo and Norah put first with their solar-powered raft. The 2.9-meter x 7-meter raft was designed mainly to float around Sweden’s lakes on the Dalsland Canal with their living space being inside a Sibley 500 Protech tent.
Minrise’s 30,000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank is great for long trips or outdoor activities where outlets just aren’t available, and you can get one for $29.70 shipped after clipping the 10% off on-page coupon, this weekend only, originally $59.99. Best of all, it can also charge some laptops via USB-C or just two standard devices simultaneously using the USB-A output ports. Product page. Read more for a hands-on video review and additional information.
Aptera’s first unveiled plans for an electric vehicle way back in 2007, and since then, it’s evolved into a never charge solar-powered electric vehicle. The 3-wheeled vehicle can travel up to 1,000-miles on pure sunlight, thanks in part to its 700 watts of solar capacity, which is capable of harvestoing 4.4 kwh of energy per day in ideal conditions. You could also opt for additional solar panels that cover the rear hatch for an extra 40-miles of range per day. Read more for an up-close look and additional information.
At first glance, A’seedbot appears to possibly be a prop straight from a science fiction film, but it’s actually a small, solar-powered autonomous robot engineered to inhabit the desert to cultivate its landscape. Created by product designer Mayzar Etehadi, it measures roughly 8-inches long and designed to recharge during the day and work at night.
Simon has spent the past 3.5-years converting an old sailboat into an off-grid, solar-powered floating home. It started out as a 1976 Wharram Oro 47, which is essentially a Polynesian canoe cat-style boat, that was purchased for around $3900 USD. Next, the diesel engine was replaced with an HP EV AC 12 kW engine, powered by 16 x 330 Watt solar panels (5280 Watts combined), and approximately 20 kW hours of lithium battery power.
It’s official, the world’s largest hydro-floating solar hybrid farm has opened for commercial operations at Sirindhorn Dam on Thailand’s Lam Dom Noi River. This project, built by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), is set to become a new tourist attraction of Ubon Ratchathani Province, ready to welcome tourists by early next year. It’s capable of generating up to 114,000 GW of power from natural gas, consisting of seven large angled panels of photovoltaic cells on the platform.
Students and researchers from Solar Team Eindhoven have unveiled Stella Vita, the world’s first solar-powered mobile home on wheels. Not only does the vehicle generate enough solar energy to drive, but also to live off. It’s set to hit the road for the first time and will begin a journey through Europe using just the solar panels on the roof. That’s right, it’s completely independent of charging stations, enough to drive, shower, watch TV, charge mobile devices, make coffee, and more. Read more for a short teaser video and additional pictures.
Thanks to new ultra-thin metal electrodes, researchers have created semitransparent perovskite solar cells that are highly efficient and can be coupled with traditional silicon cells to greatly boost the performance of both devices. This represents a big step towards developing completely transparent solar cells. Typically, these cell are made from silicon, but these new ones offer a promising alternative.
Many want to travel, but are aware of the risks associated with getting on planes. What if you could stay in your very own floating hotel suite? Introducing Anthénea, which was designed by French naval architect Jean-Michel Duacancelle. This solar-powered, autonomous pod was inspired by “Atlantis”, a deep-sea citadel and laboratory featured in the 1977 Bond classic The Spy Who Loved Me.