Renewable energy activists definitely want solar as a part of the world's energy future. I was thinking one way to do this may be to integrate solar cells to a variety of gadgets: mostly cell phones and MP3 players. Samsung came out with an interesting phone in 2009 called the Blue Earth. It's a pretty simple concept: make a green phone with solar cells on the back. CNET offers a friendly review of this gadget that you can watch. However, this approach could backfire: If mass produced, if they are unable to keep the phone completely off the grid, it will be deemed a failure. Amazon has several reviews which range from bad to okay at best. The fact is, if people look at solar with huge expectations and it under-delivers, you are going to turn off many people. This could produce a case of "1 step forward 2 steps back." People are not going to set their phones in a window to charge their devices all day day so it needs to be able to provide ample power if they set it on their car dash on the drive home. That would be very convenient and practical. If I know I never have to plug my phone in if I just have to set it o the dash I'm going to feel pretty good. If I have to set it outside for 8 hours to charge, nobody is going to buy this. This concept is a good one, but it needs to wait until phone batteries and solar cells are efficient enough to make people's lives more convenient and hassle free. An under-performing solar cell on a phone is definitely not going to help.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Solar Gadgets May Backfire
Renewable energy activists definitely want solar as a part of the world's energy future. I was thinking one way to do this may be to integrate solar cells to a variety of gadgets: mostly cell phones and MP3 players. Samsung came out with an interesting phone in 2009 called the Blue Earth. It's a pretty simple concept: make a green phone with solar cells on the back. CNET offers a friendly review of this gadget that you can watch. However, this approach could backfire: If mass produced, if they are unable to keep the phone completely off the grid, it will be deemed a failure. Amazon has several reviews which range from bad to okay at best. The fact is, if people look at solar with huge expectations and it under-delivers, you are going to turn off many people. This could produce a case of "1 step forward 2 steps back." People are not going to set their phones in a window to charge their devices all day day so it needs to be able to provide ample power if they set it on their car dash on the drive home. That would be very convenient and practical. If I know I never have to plug my phone in if I just have to set it o the dash I'm going to feel pretty good. If I have to set it outside for 8 hours to charge, nobody is going to buy this. This concept is a good one, but it needs to wait until phone batteries and solar cells are efficient enough to make people's lives more convenient and hassle free. An under-performing solar cell on a phone is definitely not going to help.
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