Flexible Portable Solar Panel

The Bright Side of Disaster Relief: an Interview with Anna Stork of LuminAID

Core77: So first off, what is the LuminAID?

Anna Stork: The LuminAID is a solar rechargeable lantern that packs flat and inflates. It's extremely lightweight and portable, but also waterproof and can float. It's very important for it to be waterproof as a lot of natural disasters have flooding. The LuminAID charges in around five hours in direct sun. It has two settings: high and low. On high, it lasts five hours, on low, it lasts 6-8 hours. I wouldn't even call it an invention; it's very straightforward.

The LuminAID uses a lithium ion rechargeable battery, like the one in your cellphone. The battery is very lightweight, but has a high density. The battery sits right next to a simple circuit board with a button, a charging LED, and a bright LED. It took a while to get the solar panel to be bright enough and to last long enough, but still be inexpensive.

Source: Core77.com (blog)

Facts About Thin Film Solar Panels

by admin

Thin Film Solar Panels are made up of a lightweight and flexible material which can be rolled up and easily transported. They are therefore very useful as a source of portable solar power.

Any person who has ever used a solar-powered calculator has had « hands on » experience with Thin Film Photovoltaics. This technology has been with us for years, creating the strips which are used to power calculators

This photovoltaic technology has now evolved to a point where we can mass-produce solar panels, through the use of machines not unlike printing presses.

The substance which is used to print these photovoltaic panels is called « solar ink. »

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News

Harnessing solar power on a smaller scale

San Francisco Chronicle - Apr 17, 2010

Most conventional silicon cell photovoltaic solar panels are eyesores. However, there may soon be a less obtrusive, colorful and flexible alternative: the

R15-1200 Classic Rollable Solar Charger Provided by PowerFilm

AZoCleantech - Apr 30, 2010

Manufactured with a patented rolling procedure, the solar charger develops a flexible and thin solar panel. This lightweight and long-lasting solar charger

'Room' will be the next hi-tech tool, says expert

Gulf Times - Apr 21, 2010

Showing a flexible and portable display panel, Mundie said it could be folded and kept in a backpack. The panel had a thin battery glued behind.

Solar-Powered Samsonite Line Set for Release

Tom's Guide - Apr 16, 2010

Ascent's technology, based on something called copper indium gallium diselenide (for some reason abbreviated as CIGS), allows for flexible and thin panels.