photo from PC World
I mentioned back in April that solar-powered cell phones are coming out this summer. Well, now there’s talk of solar netbooks emerging as well. Spanish producer iUnika will begin to sell its first solar model, Gyy, in June.
A Step Forward
Since a regular laptop uses more power than a few small solar cells can provide, the Gyy has less features and capabilities than today’s average and runs on linux. Even so, the model is the beginning of further progress to make the mobile information revolution sustainable in a carbon-constrained world.
Further Efficiency Needed
Falling prices for solar in the coming months will make solar devices much more commonplace and will drive further improvement in the technology. Since space matters on a small laptop, the solar applied to such devices will likely be the more efficient (~20%) silicon-based modules from companies such as Sunpower. Technological advances are needed in two directions — increasing the energy efficiency of laptops and their applications as well as continuing to increase solar cell efficiencies toward 25% and beyond.
Onwards in the Sustainable Energy Transition-
Tags: efficiency, laptops, netbooks, Solar