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Solar-powered "Sole Mio" mouse goes into testing phase
While the mouse is far from the biggest power hog when it comes to computer peripherals, a team of Dutch researchers seem out to prove that every little bit helps, and they're now putting their solar-powered mouse to the test. Dubbed the "Sole Mio," the mouse is designed to be placed near a window when it's not in use, which the researchers hope will give it enough juice to keep it from running dry during a busy workday. While there's no word on when it might actually see a commercial release, the researchers seem to be fairly confident in it, even going so far as to include the Dutch Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in their initial test group.[Via The Raw Feed]
California to get world's largest solar farm
Cleantech America, a San Francisco based developer, has launched a project to build the world's largest solar farm, giving this Spanish solar tower a run for its money, as well as insulting the work of countless Tesco engineers and their puny, insignificant solar roof. When completed in 2011, the 80-megawatt spread of solar panels will cover roughly 640 acres and be 17 times the size of the largest US solar farm in existence. The project, which will generate enough power for nearly 21,000 homes, will be sold to the Kings River Conservation District, a public agency that purchases power for 12 cities and two counties in California's Central Valley. The company hopes that a solar farm of this size will be an industry-wide tipping point for energy providers, and will drive the cost of solar energy downward. Meanwhile, Tesco and Spain will be plotting their sublime revenge.
Solar motorbike uses snail shell shape for surface area
Powering a car with solar panels is a relatively easy task, but on a motorbike it's a lot harder to find flat surfaces to catch the sun. That means that a solar powered motorbike has got to look rather odd in order to provide enough surface area for the panels: hence the snail shell-like design of SunRed's prototype solar powered bike. When (or if) SunRed completes a real world prototype, the bike's surface area will be 25 square feet, allowing the bike to store enough of the sun's energy to ride for 13 miles at speeds of up to 30 MPH. The motor is integrated into the wheel too, so there's no transmission. Once these "green" bike thinkers sort out the problem of running a bike without oil, we hope they'll move onto making them a little less fugly. It seems like a precedent is being set here. [Via Autoblog Green]
Solar-powered Swiss boat crosses the Atlantic
MW-Line, a Swiss boat-maker known mostly for its water taxis, has successfully piloted a craft across the Atlantic using nothing but solar power, chocolates, neutrality, and hope. The boat, conspicuously named Sun21, is the first of its eco-friendly kind to attempt the journey. The 46-foot catamaran made the trip -- from the Canary Islands to the Bahamas -- in just under a month, and according to MW-Line, the operating costs are 20 to 45 times lower than traditional motorboats. The company claims their next project is to take a solar-powered ship around the world, and then get righteously wasted.[Via metaefficient]
Meraki announces solar-powered WiFi kit
Solar-powered WiFi isn't exactly anything new, but upstart Meraki looks to be doing its best to make it more accessible to the general public, today announcing a new outdoor wireless repeater with a solar panel to keep it running. Designed to be used with Meraki's existing Mini WiFi router, the repeater will let you beam a signal up to 700 feet away which, at just $99 a pop, would make a neighborhood-wide WiFi network a relatively low-cost affair. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on what the solar panel accessory will cost, although Meraki says it'll "clearly be the most affordable option on the market." We shouldn't have to wait too much longer for that key detail, however, as the entire kit's set to ship sometime late this summer.
Solar-powered battery works with PSP
Want to have the power of the sun in your hand? Good. Digital World Tokyo is reporting on a new solar-powered battery. Boasting some impressive specs, like 1350mAh life and 3.7 volt operation, the battery will convert solar energy into portable electricity. One thing that makes this gadget particularly noteworthy is its connectivity to handheld devices, such as PSP.For the adventurous, this battery pack may help make those trips to the Sahara less boring. There are a few drawbacks that come to mind, though. Firstly, the PSP screen doesn't handle sunlight too well. Secondly, the battery takes quite a while to charge: ten hours in sunlight. Some people don't even see that much light in a day. Finally, it doesn't come cheap: ¥7,980.
The solar powered lighter flings sparks without fuel
Considering that the smokers in the house have probably already set up an import to get one of Golden Dragon's e-cigarettes shipped over, why not do yet another good deed and rid yourself of that fossil fuel-wasting lighter? All jesting aside, it seems that a Portuguese webstore is stocking a rather vivid new way to start fires (and open bottles, too) using the sun, and thankfully, it doesn't involve a magnifying glass and days of patience. The device is equipped with a built-in solar panel that reportedly utilizes sunlight or artificial light to charge up internal Li-ions, and with the presumed flick of a switch, the device flings out a "continuous series of sparks" that should get that pilot light going. Apparently, this thing isn't meant to be a flamethrower of any sort, but if you're out of matches and have tons of dry lint, you can snag one of these uber-green fire starters for €13.90 ($19).[Via UberReview]
Solar-powered beambots scurry about, shun batteries
While we wouldn't expect you to create your own city-powering solar tower in just 72 hours, the folks at MAKE have unveiled a sweet weekend project to get the frightened DIY novices in the crowd involved in robotics. The cleverly-dubbed beambot can be created from spare parts junking up your garage (or for the hardcore, your silverware drawer) as well as pre-packaged kits, and best of all, the energy required to bring these machines to life is available for free during standard daylight hours. The solar-powered bots don't do much besides walk around, explore the terrain, and become gradually less active as dawn approaches, but we're sure the more highly trained robotics engineers could bolt on a slingshot and quickly devise an underground beambot fighting championship. Regardless of your plans this weekend, be sure to visit the read link if you're dying for an excuse to cancel 'em.
Spanish solar tower could eventually power an entire city
Just last month we witnessed a gigantic skyscraper / solar tower hybrid that generates a whopping 390-kilowatts of energy, but even that looks like child's play compared to the 40-story solar power plant that resides in Spain. The expansive system consists of a towering concrete building, a field of 600 (and growing) sun-tracking mirrors that are each 120-square meters in size, and a receiver that converts concentrated solar energy from the heliostats into steam that eventually drives the turbines. Currently, only one field of mirrors is up and running, but even that produces enough power to energize 6,000 homes, and the creators are hoping to see the entire population of Seville (600,000 folks) taken care of solely from sunlight. So if you're eager to see what's likely the greenest solar power plant currently operating, be sure to slip on some shades, tag the read link, and peep the video.[Via Wired]
DIY solar heater constructed with aluminum cans
A solar-powered air conditioner doesn't do one much good during a Vermont winter, but rather than cranking on the heater (or huddling under the heated Hello Kitty mat) just to heat things up in a relatively small garage, a clever DIYer set out to concoct his own solar heater using scrap parts and a bit of free time. The solar wall was primarily built with black-painted soda cans, a wooden wall, plexiglass cover, and an inlet and outlet to channel the air around. The homegrown "solar furnace" captured the sunlight beaming onto the south side of the building, and as cool air found its way into the toasty cans and rose through drilled out portals, it managed to heat up a respectable 15-degrees Fahrenheit before escaping into the garage. The creator did note that his next attempt would sport a relocated inlet and be much larger in size, but if you're interested in putting a few in-the-way parts to good use next winter, be sure to hit the read link for a pictorial how-to.[Via HackNMod, thanks Joe]
Wireless Outdoor Solar Speaker rocks out on beaches, picnics
It's not like we had anything personal against the 80s style boomboxes that lasted a good half hour or so on eight D-cell batteries, but tagging one along to a day at the beach wound up getting pretty costly in a hurry. Joining the hordes of other eco-friendly and multi-faceted camping / outdoor gear is the Wireless Outdoor Solar Speaker, which is quite likely to be overlooked as a simple thermos at first glance. Atop the canister sits a solar panel that soaks up energy and uses it to pump out tunes through its (understandably weak) five-watt speaker. Additionally, a complimentary wireless (albeit battery-powered) transceiver allows any music source with a 3.5-millimeter output to be beam music to the solar speaker from "up to 150 feet away." Reportedly, the sun-lovin' device will run UK-based chaps £99.95 ($199), but that's assuming you can actually catch it in stock.[Via PopGadget]
Motorola patent will see LCD fitted with solar cell
Check the pic, is that cool or what? Actually, we're not very sure exactly what Moto is showing us with this picture, perhaps the recently approved patent application for the solar panel fitted LCD is sponsored by the letter "E"? The idea in concept is straightforward enough: your mobile's display could be designed such that it would have a solar cell built right in, so leaving your cell open (or maybe even while on a call, see below) would allow it to slowly recharge. The patent does reveal another interesting bit of info that reads "...at least some of the light passing from the front side and through the backside of the reflective liquid crystal display will illuminate," so we think this may well hint at a two-sided screen. We hope to see something from Motorola with this in it soon, and failing that, from whoever buys the idea.[Thanks, Tom]
UK's CIS Solar Tower garners 390-kilowatts from the sun
We're not entirely sure if Manchester's CIS Solar Tower will be the world's grandest solar tower, but in terms of buildings have moved beyond the drawing board, it definitely packs a punch. Reportedly, the flaky construction led to dilapidating walls, which were then replaced by a much greener solution -- 7,244 Sharp 80W photovoltaic panels, to be precise. Curiously, only 4,898 of the modules are actually functional, but they still soak up enough sunlight to generate 390-kilowatts of energy, or in layman's terms, enough juice to "power 1,000 PCs for a year." Additionally, the roof is home to two dozen wind turbines that generate 10-percent of the total power used in the building. Of course, such an endeavor did ring up at a steep £5.675 million ($11.4 million), but we're pretty certain this solar panel makeover was concerned with matters other than dollars and cents. Click on through for a top-down shot.[Via MetaEfficient]
Portasol Solar Tracker continuously faces the sun
Although solar panels are becoming more and more efficient, one of the most glaring oversights in solar technology has been the inability for panels to autonomously move along with the sun and maximize the energy it could take in. The Portasol Tracker, however, is aiming to change all that, as a market-ready rendition is finally set after seven years of testing. The Hydrasolar panel utilizes hydraulic motors along with sophisticated "passive solar trackers to affect the thermal expansion and contraction of a contained liquid to make the device rotate." Essentially, the movement of the liquid causes the panel to spin to the west along with the sun as the day passes on, ensuring that the maximum amount of energy is garnered during those precious daylight hours. Currently, a small selection of models and mounting options are becoming available, and while hard pricing doesn't yet seem to be available, feel free to hit the links below for a smattering of pics and even a quick video overview.[Via MAKE]
NSSO ponders harvesting solar energy via satellites
When you've already got colleagues dreaming up space sunshades, all of a sudden harvesting energy from outside of the Earth's atmosphere doesn't sound like such a stretch. Apparently, ambitious individuals at the Pentagon's National Security Space Office (NSSO) may "begin a study in the near future on the possibility of using satellites to collect solar energy for use on Earth." Notably, the plan actually seeks to not only provide an alternate source of fuel to the oil-dependent dwellers here on Mother Earth, but it would hopefully provide ample energy "to US troops in bases or on the battlefield." As impossible as it may sound, the present probably isn't a bad time to consider such an endeavor now that solar cells are becoming increasingly efficient, and since an actual deployment wouldn't even be in the cards until "around 20 years" from now, it's not like there's oodles of time to waste.[Via Wired]
Inventor shows off DIY solar-powered vehicle
It may not boast quite the same futuristic styling we've come to expect from some other enviro-friendly vehicles, but inventor Saqr Bin Saif's solar-powered vehicle here looks like it could outlast many of them on the road, and quite possibly run over some of them. It won't be getting anywhere very fast, however, as Bin Saif says the car can only reach a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour (about 30 mph), with four 170 watt solar panels supplying all the power and two batteries storing the energy. Then again, that's not too shabby for a DIY vehicle, which apparently took three months to build after four months of planning. While Bin Saif doesn't have any future plans for this particular vehicle, he doesn't seem to be giving up on the idea all together, saying he's now moving on to a new car that'll be smaller and faster.[Via Autoblog Green]
Electric Xebra Xero car to offer solar power option
If you prefer to zip around town with a green conscience, you'll be glad to know that electric car maker ZAP will offer a new photovoltaic panel option for its three-wheeled Xebra Xero models. Xebras get their main charge from a standard 110 volt outlet, but the solar panel can power short-distance trips all on its own. Compared to pricier, stranger-looking alternative energy vehicles, a Xebra Xero will give you not a bang, but a solid scoot for your buck, with a top speed of 40 mph and estimated price tag of $12,000. Xebra Xeros are best-suited for city use and are available as a 4-door sedan or 2-passenger pick-up truck. Though you might be a little embarrassed to pick someone up in a whip like this.
Solar-powered rollerblading Dubya-bot chariot
Modern advancements in rickshaw / chariot designs have given drivers' tired legs a chance to rest, but why not remove the driver altogether and employ a solar-powered, rollerblading robot in effigy of George W. Bush dressed as a Roman warrior? Unorthodox transportation inventor Bob Schneevis, also a professor of neurology at Stanford, juices up this 2-person chariot with two 24-volt batteries powered by solar panels on the roof of his garage. The Dubya-faced bot goes into rollerblading mode (a legs vs. wheels efficiency experiment) to tow the 2-wheeled chariot for a politically-charged, yet enviro-friendly ride. Yes, Schneevis isn't exactly subtle with the presidential propaganda, but we highly encourage you to focus on what's really important: applying green energy methods to rollerblading robot-powered chariots.[Via Autoblog Green]
US Tesco building to sport "world's largest" solar roof
Unbeknownst to most, we are lovers of our planet Earth and depend so much on solar power that we're often compared to the mighty Birdman. We cheered during Sanyo's CES keynote when it announced "Think GAIA," and now we come again to applaud Tesco. Joining forces with Solar Integrated Technologies, the British supermarket giant is set to build what it claims to be the "world's largest" solar roof on its new distribution center in California. By the end of the $13 million project, the roof will provide 1/5 of the facilities power and save "1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year." With all that said, now we have to go and ponder whether or not this is enough for us to leave our beloved Trader Joe's.
Honda creates a solar cell subsidiary and factory, to be ready by late 2007
Honda announced late last week that it would establish a new subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., to make some swanky solar cells. This new variety, known in the biz as CIGS (copper, indium, gallium and selenium -- no, not those other environmentally-unfriendly kind), apparently require half of the energy needed to produce traditional solar cells. The Japanese plant, which is already under construction, is expected to be fully operational by fall 2007 with an annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts. Maybe if other automakers can lease some of this tech from Honda, those solar-powered rides will get a bit more budget-friendly -- or at least they might be able to use some of those savings on better industrial design.
