One of the most common criticisms levelled at solar technologies is that they become pretty useless when the sun goes down. What is the point, ask solar panels' many critics, of a system that generates energy when you are out at work, then stops generating energy when you get home in the evening and actually need it?
The solar industry has two main responses to this ridiculous yet strangely potent criticism. First, a well-managed grid can handle the peaks and troughs in supply that result from renewable energy, drawing on solar power during the day before switching to alternative sources when required, resulting in a new fall in emissions and a more resilient grid. And second, just wait until cost-effective energy storage technologies emerge that allow people to store the solar power they generate during the day and use it when they want.
Billions of dollars are currently flowing into the field of energy storage as investors realise that the delivery of cost-effective energy storage systems will have a game-changing impact on the entire renewables sector. Projects range from everything from large-scale flow batteries and fuel cells, to the expansion of pumped hydro systems and the development of giant fly wheels.
However, SolarPod is taking a different approach with a small-scale battery system known as the Solarpod which will allow solar panel pioneers to store the energy they generate for use at the time of their choosing.
The sleek laser-cut aluminium case contains a lithium iron phosphate battery that is fitted with a 400W inverter, a UK 3-pin socket, two USB ports and a 12V car socket.
As such it can be easily plugged in to a 50W or 60W solar panel, such as the foldable panel provided by us for the purposes of this review, and charged up during daylight hours.
It can also be recharged from the mains if you want to use the Solarpod as a basic battery, but the ideal scenario for environmentalists is to charge the pod using the panels, which typically takes about six hours on a good day, and then use it to power a range of electrical devices.
We found that the fully charged Solarpod could run a standard office PC for around two hours, but more significantly Thousand Suns claims it can run a 32in LCD TV for five hours, recharge a smart phone 40 times, or power a small refrigerator for 18 hours. Moreover, the battery can go through around 1,500 cycles while maintaining up to 85 per cent of its performance, giving it a realistic lifespan of 10 years.
It is portable, and is therefore aimed squarely at the relatively small green camping and off-grid markets, and will be of interest to genuine eco geeks. The Solarpod is a great little clean technology, as well as an interesting conversation starter.
It is hugely attractive, however, as a model for how energy storage systems could work.
As such Thousand Suns has already hinted at the prospect of integrating three to five solar pods together to provide enough stored solar energy to run a green home through the night.
It is early days for this technology, but the Solarpod is far more than just an intriguing green gadget. It also provides an invaluable glimpse of how improvements in solar cells, energy storage systems, and device energy efficiency could combine to make zero-emission homes and offices technically viable.
Solarpod is a portable solar generator and designed to be able to provide energy self sufficiency in areas where there is either an unreliable or a non-existent grid network. For instance; at your summer beach house in Cornwall or in regular power cut stricken Japan. It is also ideal for the use on your boat, or for on your hunting/fishing trip to replace that noisy diesel generator!
Solarpod can be completed with optional high performance solar panels and contains the latest in battery and invertor technology. It can power most appliances found in the home, shed, boat and workplace – such as TVs, stereos, games consoles, laptops, fax, power tools etc.
Works out of the box, no installation required. This power station can be packed away and relocated with-in minutes.
Compact, Light-weight, Powerful
Cables connect solar panels directly to Solarpod which contains a high performance, green, Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. Solarpod is fitted with a 400W inverter, a UK 3-pin socket (or local required socket), 2 USB sockets and a 12V Car socket
