At this stage, we are all pretty familiar with solar power and the many applications – only growing – it has across the globe and across every aspect of our lives. There are debates about solar farms spoiling the landscape and the energy question is too diverse to be settled in all cases by the solar solution, but that hasn’t stopped solar power expanding and becoming a workable solution for myriad energy problems.
Pale Blue Earth, a company specializing in innovative household battery products such as the USB C rechargeable batteries that are steadily replacing the familiar AA and AAA household batteries, remark that they are only one part of the global energy solution. To make a real difference, it is best to aggregate all the non-fossil fuel energy solutions into a global strategy for saving the planet. But this is of course something that is easier said than done.
Nevertheless, solar power has been one of the most successful of the lot. Driving its widespread adoption is, naturally, the fact that it requires nothing more than a sunny day to operate. But more than this, solar power has been increasing simply because the technology is becoming more refined, more effective and, above all, cheaper. This is the reason why we are beginning to see solar power everywhere.
Solar in Strange Places
One aspect of the development and refinement of solar technology has been that it is beginning to crop up in unusual places. We are not necessarily talking about solar power appearing in places where you wouldn’t expect there to be a great deal of sun (although that is happening too) but more solar power powering things that we would never have thought would have been possible. Here follows a list of real-world examples demonstrating solar power at work in some very odd places. These might seem terribly futuristic, but it is happening now.
Solar Parkas
That’s right – solar-powered clothes. Or rather, the integration of a small solar panel into the fabric of clothes. This type of product is naturally aimed at those who would like to have solar power on the go. The challenge, of course, has been making such items in any way fashionable or desirable but, as it turns out, the parka has proven perfectly suited. By designing parkas with big broad pockets – it has become possible to neatly add a solar panel over them. Reach into your pocket and charge your phone.
Solar Car Parks
Referring again to the integration of different energy solutions, solar car parks have integrated the electric car with the solar station. These resemble large carparks with parking spaces covered by a canopy of solar panels. Park your EV here and charge up.
Abandoned Golf Courses
Does a golf course make a suitable location for a solar farm? In fact, yes. It is the large, angled open spaces and the small collections of shade trees that make them perfect for this purpose.
Solar Roads
Asphalt and concrete are yesterday’s news. What about a road literally made from solar panels? Roads cover many millions of miles of open, sun-exposed space. The potential here is enormous.
Solar Trash Cans
Solar trash cans make use of top-mounted photovoltaic cells in order to concise the trash as it is thrown into the can. This means that trash can be instantly broken down with no environmental impact at all. It also increases the trash can’s capacity by eight times.
Solar power has been slowly making gains over time, but if these unique applications are anything to go by then that takeover could be speeding up soon.
