Earth Tech Products is a cool online store that offers a number of eco-friendly solar options for a wide array of uses. Recently, I was viewing their online selection and came across the Solarflat 1.8 Solar Car Battery Charger. I have to admit, the premise is definitely promising. I have had instances where I’ve gotten out of work and gone to start my car and got nothing. That can be a pretty frustrating experience, which is why I recommend AAA, but I digress.

The solar car battery charger is designed to function seamlessly in overcast conditions due to an amorphous thin solar film. Not only does the film maximize output, it also contains a special UV inhibitor that protects it from heat damage. The unit itself, is 14”x5”x0.6” and mounts via suction cup to your windshield, includes 10 ft. cables as well as battery clamps and a warranty package. This is one of many dynamic promotional products featuring some of the latest solar technology.

Source: EarthTechProducts 

The North American Solar Challenge begins this weekend and will run nearly 2,400 miles in 10 days from Dallas, TX to Calgary, AB. The competitors, 24 colleges, will compete in the event with their personally designed solar powered race cars. Victory in this race will definitely award notoriety to the young champion and their school, but will unlikely help with said champions blackhead removal.

The bi-annual race has been going on for well over 15 years and has seen major innovations over its tenure. The first champion (1990) sustained an average speed of 25 mph, while the last winner achieved an average of over 60 mph just two years ago.  The students from Michigan have won four races thus far and have their eyes on the prize again this year.

Source: ABCNews

Creating solar energy is about to become a whole lot less expensive. Researchers, working in inorganic chemistry, have begun utilizing a technique that creates a molecular reaction in water to free hydrogen ions. The free ions create hydrogen gas that in turn can be used in a fuel cell to generate electricity.

Solar output is limited due to the fact that the cells maximum effectiveness can only be harnessed during peek hours and “off peek” storage can be pricey. The aforementioned process will be able to produce energy in the form of Hydrogen gas that can be stored more effectively regardless of time of day. In fact, these scientists would probably say that is is easier than finding cheap life insurance rates. Using water as a catalyst to generate energy is far more affordable than other solutions to date.

Source: ABCNews

Having done a bit of research regarding various solar applications, it was really enjoyable to find an application so close to one of my own hobbies, boating. Unbeknownst to some, there have been many solar powered maritime expeditions over the last few years. 

The Swiss crewed TransAtlantic21 (Sun21) was the first solar powered vessel to cross the Atlantic. Departing Seville in southern Spain, the Sun21 traveled nearly 7000 miles to arrive in Miami, FL 117 days later.  With a journey similar to that of Christopher Columbus, the Swiss crew desired to change people’s mindset about alternative energy in the same fashion that Columbus did with his proclamation that the world is in fact round. Who knows, there mat be a good chance of signing up to be a part of one of these solar cruises in the near future.

Source:SolarNavigator.net

Israeli researchers working in the Negev Desert have created a wallet friendly solar power system. The researchers system limits the quantity and size of photovoltaic panels by utilizing a solar dish. The solar dish is not much different than the satellite dishes we are all familiar with.

In this system, the suns rays are focused on a concentrated array of photovoltaic panels from a relatively small glass dish. The ability to focus a more concentrated light source onto the panels produces a much greater energy yield while benefiting the consumer by offering higher energy output while minimizing the materials cost.

Learn more about this topic or other solar items at Amazon books.

Ladies, are you tired of dropping calls when you are out because of a low or dead battery on your PDA, Cell or IPhone? Well, Noon Solar has got you in mind. That is why they recently developed the world’s first solar handbag. With a flexible, light weight, solar panel embedded fashionably into the fabric, you can recharge all of your handhelds on the go.

Although Noon Solar’s handbags won’t remove you from “the grid”, they will begin moving you fashionably into a renewable direction. Isn’t it time you took a baby step toward solar power?

Seriously, I think its another good example of trying to find the right application for the concept.  I’m still looking for a good back pack solar solution myself although I have to wonder how many rays a hand bag is going to pick up as they tend to be tucked away where you can’t see them on the floor of a car, under a desk etc.  Besides, most hand bags, (like my backpack) need a good deal of slimming down and you can’t put Phentermine diet pills in a hand bag to make it slimmer.  You have to exorcise the demons by dumping stuff out.

Everyday, more and more people are exploring alternative, eco-friendly, ways of powering their homes and businesses from tankless water heaters to solar power to biofuels. Solar power has gained much attention as both a viable and affordable alternative to fossil fuels and the like. The Discovery Channel’s program, “How It’s Made”, takes viewers through the process of producing a solar panel for commercial use.

With so much attention focused on the benefits of solar power, it is interesting to see just what goes into producing a photovoltaic panel. Not only is the process surprisingly basic, it is quite “green” as well.

This has been a very busy month and year even for news on the solar energy industry.  With oil prices over $100 the US is following the world and waking up to the importance and necessity of renewable sources of energy.  Solar Energy is not the cure all, but it is part of the solution and so its no wonder that there are now a number of new innovations, investments and all the stories that cover them, some of which are provided below.

Everyone and there brother, sister and distant cousins are trying to find a solar power play from solar powered back packs to cars and more.  Its probably a matter of time before someone tries to come out with a solar powered festool chain saw or coal train even.

I write another blog from time to time called Maven Mapper’s Information – the Light and Maven Mapper’s Information – The Dark.  The purpose of the latter is to talk about technology that doesn’t quite work or preferably to talk about technology that could work if it just had that certain something.

This evening I wrote an article inspired by a trip to a very cold and chilling movie theater.  I came up with the concept that a vest with a built in heater (already exists today) could be powered or have the power replaced by solar energy.

The vests that exist today are typically powered by a 9 volt battery, not the most efficient power source or battery these days kind of like the eca stack of power consumption. 

But consider backpacking or spending some time out of doors during the day where a solar battery could be charged based on solar cells in your backpack or sewn into your jacket or clothing.  Then as the temperature starts to drop that power collected could be used to heat up your clothing, your jacket, your boots or even the liner of your sleeping bag at night!

Maven Mapper’s: Temperature Sensitive and Self Adjusting Clothing

I’d like to talk about a concept idea for a solar power concept.  One of the issues with building out an electric car infrastructure deals with the existing cars on the road.  It would take a massive effort to replace all the very heavy cars and gas guzzlers in general.  Some progress is made these days when people make three wheeled cars as they are categorized as motorcycles and have fewer safety requirements. 

Well, this evening I was thinking about many of the new solar photovoltaic products designed to be applied to surfaces that today do not generate any electricity, like applying film to skyscraper windows to generate some electricity. 

It may not generate all the power needed, but some power is better than no power!

That got me thinking about all those existing cars.  What if it were possible to resurface existing cars with photovoltaic materials (possibly yet to be developed that could turn say a 57 chevy or a pickup truck into a solar power gathering device.  The electricity does not necessarily have to be used to power the car itself to benefit the cars owner.

A person could essentially park their car outside at work or at home, collect rays and store the electricity in batteries (at home or in the car).  That power could then be used to assist in powering the home or in sending back to the grid.

Many of those existing gas guzzlers could be retrofitted with the material and start to help offset some of their costs.  Picture going to Auto Zone or Pep boys to pick up some body shop supplies to paint your car with something like a nanoparticle like paint that captured energy in photovoltaic cells and then transferred that energy through circuits to a battery or grid.