What about solar rechargeable batteries?
Yesterday, I read about an innovative idea that combines flexible solar cells with rechargeable batteries. The result: solar rechargeable batteries. I loved the general idea, particularly as it gives you the option of recharging for free (and just about anywhere). Still, I have some comments and tweaks to suggest in this review.
The basic concept is that 1.5 volt rechargeable batteries are covered with thin film solar cells. Sunlight shining on the cells recharges the batteries (with use of simple connections – one from silver paste, and the other with flat cable from an old camera).
The inventor is a blogger from Norway, Knut Karlsen. He received sample flexible solar cells from the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology and created the rechargeable battery solar invention. He’s even ready to improve upon the prototype with a charging controller.
When I read about the solar rechargeable batteries, I thought to myself, wow – I am glad that people are thinking about new ways to use solar power! I am very hopeful for some uses of thin film, flexible solar panels. Relatively small inventions like this can lead to even more solar breakthroughs. You never know when one idea leads to another! Just consider some of the potential applications of thin film solar as shown in this video:
Getting back to the solar rechargeable battery invention, in my opinion, the biggest shortcoming is that it doesn’t make sense to wrap the film around the entire battery because there will always be one side that is not exposed to sunlight. So, why not paste film only on the side that will be facing the sky?
Now, I admit that I’m not an engineer, so feel free to correct me if you have advanced training in this regard. With just a bit a tweaking, I think that Mr. Karlsen is onto something here.
Today – solar rechargeable batteries. Tomorrow – what next?
Tags: flexible solar cells, solar inventions, solar rechargeable batteries
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