That wonderful iPhone that you purchased to give you all of the advantages that are available with an iPhone, also gives you a need to power it up more frequently than one of the lesser phones that have preceded it. There isn’t always an opportunity to plug your charger into your wall outlet or even your car charger. Look above you at the sun. Enjoy the daylight and look at it as a source for energy as well as enjoyment.

Spring and summer are great times to take advantage of solar power. The longer days give us more sunshine and consequently more power that is free and save. The environment is protected and wallets share less with power companies.

Solar iPhone chargers are no exception. When you head to the beach or other outdoor venue, you needn’t worry about not having a way to charge that iPhone that doesn’t require an outlet attached to a wall. Using a solar iPhone case will extend your audio playback and your 3G talk time. Those are two things that the busy person values.

An iPhone has a tendency to suck up power at a rapid rate. A solar iPhone case will give you the opportunity to stay in touch as needed, regardless of your location. There is no longer a need to stay close to your home, your office or you car to get your iPhone charged. Daylight is the driving force for your continuous communication.

Solar iPhone silicon chargers come in a variety of colors. You may choose a neutral white or black, or venture out into neon shades. The silicon will also give your iPhone a little extra protection from an unexpected bump or drop.

Some of the features of the iPhone silicon charger cases are power indicating lights, charger interface, charger plug and a .4W solar panel. All of these features make your iPhone case a valuable asset to your communication.

A standard solar battery case for the iPhone 4 will have LED’s that indicate for solar panel. You will always know your battery status. Shop for one with a mini USB cable and instruction manual. You will need all of these features to make your iPhone experience all that it should be.

Internet shopping is a great way to find the iPhone charger case that will suit your needs. There is no need to shop from store to store and waste fuel consumption when you can use your solar power to charge your computer and shop from home.

Whichever mode of shopping you choose; the most important point to consider is the fact that solar power is environmentally friendly. There are no dangerous emissions that can damage the environment. Once the unit is purchased, it will not affect the financial status of your wallet in the future. It is a win/win situation and definitely one that should be considered. There is no need to continue paying for power when there is a valuable resource that you can take advantage of on a daily basis at no cost.

Solar laptop chargers offer a great way to use clean energy to meet some of your everyday power needs. Even though they have been around for a while now, there is still no consensus on which is the best brand to buy, or indeed, what factors should influence the choice of solar laptop charger.

Here is a short breakdown of the top three laptop chargers on the market today, with reference to three key indicators: price, portability and power. Usually there is a compromise between one or the other one of these features, and here we give you a brief overview of the best products on the market.

Solar Rolls

• Price: ranges from around $295 to $655, though the most preferred models are at the higher price range.
• Portability: The Solar Rolls are perhaps the most portable solar laptop chargers around. Even the largest solar roll which measures 12” by 57” weighs only a few ounces once rolled up. This means that when you lay it out to be charged, the larger surface area can absorb more energy and you can roll it up and carry it around without feeling much weight. These solar chargers are also waterproof, making them perfect for cafes, restaurants, office desks. You can even charge them on the lawn or on the car roof.
• Power: In terms of power, solar rolls come in three sizes. The largest ones have about 14 watts of power and can fully charge a laptop in 5 to 10 hours. You can combine several solar rolls to simultaneously charge a laptop.

The NotePower

• Price: The NotePower is pretty affordable, with prices at $262 and $386 for its two versions.
• Portability: The best thing about the NotePower is that it folds to become a laptop case. This automatically makes it a winning product, even though there is a slight drawback in that one version weighs three pounds and the other six pounds.

This somewhat reduces its functionality as a portable device, as does its thinness. Unless you have a Macbook or something, you might want to reconsider this solar laptop charger.

• Power: The NotePower offers higher power options than the SolarRolls, with two power options at 15 watts and 22 watts.

The Solaris 26

• Price: $620
• Portability: In terms of portability, the Solaris 26 folds up neatly to the size of an A4 sheet, making it ideal to carry around anywhere. On the downside though, it weighs a little more than it looks, around twenty eight ounces, but even so, is one of the lightest solar chargers available.
• Power: This solar laptop charger uses the latest in thin film technology to give you the most in charging power. It has trickle charge with 26 watt output, which means your laptop can be fully charged in of 4 to 6 hours. These numbers make it one of the best solar chargers available today.

Solar laptop chargers are still in their infancy. Despite that, there are some competitive products on the market. With laptop battery innovation pretty stagnant, these devices will become very popular indeed.

Tired of having to charge your cell phone over and over again? Or do you have to limit your productivity in public spaces because you can’t find a charger? For people constantly on the go, and even those of us who enjoy a nice afternoon in the park, a solar backpack just might be the best way of keeping all your gadgets fully functional and still enjoy the great outdoors.

These backpacks have an added value to those of us who enjoy camping and hiking. Now parents can take their children out on a camping trip without worrying about losing touch with home, and the kids can keep their Gameboys charged all the time.

There are however, several considerations to take into account before buying a solar backpack. Even though they offer you practically a lifelong source of charging all your gadgets for free once you buy it, the price range and features of these backpacks vary considerably.

Voltaic solar packs are some of the most practical ones on the market today. They aren’t the cheapest around, but offer a lot of options in terms of practical use. Voltaic solar backpacks have a larger area for solar cells, which makes sure that maximum solar energy is stored in the pack. They also come with a battery.

This makes sure that any excess energy generated on a particularly bright morning is stored away and not wasted. Maybe the best part of the voltaic solar pack is just that: in case of rainy or cloudy days, it offers you the option of using power through your home sockets or your car’s cigarette lighter to charge the battery. This backup plan makes the voltaic solar pack very practical.

Solar Laptop Chargers. You will need serious energy to charge your laptop, compared to simpler solar phone chargers for example. And for this, you will either want to invest in a solar laptop charger, or a voltaic solar pack as described above.

Solar laptop chargers go a step further in being environmentally conscious since some of them are made from recycled soda cans. So we can see the appeal they might have for those of us more attracted to reducing our carbon footprint. As such, though, they do cost a bit more than the regular solar backpack and you will have to check with your laptop manufacturer to make sure you laptop will be able to charge from it.

Regular Solar Backpacks. These are for those of us who don’t really need the support system of a whole electronic office wherever we go. Regular solar backpacks generally have a lower capacity for power generation, and if your only requirement is charging phones, iPods, mp3s and so on, this is the best option for you. These packs are considerably cheaper than those that produce enough power to charge a laptop for hours. You will want to check for external battery though, in case you run out of power on a cloudy day.

Germany has always been a world leader in both the production and use of solar panels. Known as the world’s pre-eminent engineers, the German industrial base has the knack of designing and creating some of the best engineered products in the world.

The country has also been a leader in the uptake of solar power, despite not being the sunniest place in the world. The recent announcement that the government will completely scrap nuclear power stations by 2022, is another step forward for renewable energy and the humble solar panel.

While much of the difference will be made up of wind power, the uptake of solar is set to increase too. Already one of the biggest proponents of solar PV power generations, Germany is hopefully setting a precedent by moving away from what is an unpopular fuel.

The German Chancellor, Mrs. Merkel said that in its “fundamental” rethink of policy, Germany could set an example for other countries.

“We believe we as a country can be a trailblazer for a new age of renewable energy sources,” the German chancellor was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
“We can be the first major industrialized country that achieves the transition to renewable energy with all the opportunities – for exports, development, technology, jobs – it carries with it.”

While I will always promote solar power, any renewable energy is a good energy. So the country’s move from nuclear to renewable has to be applauded. Once a country as respected as Germany makes it work, other countries are sure to follow.

Other European countries can look at the German example and how popular it will be with the people, and want a piece of that political pie. Spain is another large user of solar panels, and the next logical step in the chain. While not as respected on the world stage as Germany, it will be another practical example of a world where nuclear power is in decline.

With Britain having announced they were planning to build more nuclear power stations, it would be nice to think they would reconsider that move in the light of the German change.

With the events in Fukushima still ringing loudly in our ears, governments of the world must be looking at the technology with a different set of eyes. It is my sincere hope that they abandon it in favor of renewable options in the future.

On our own shores, it will be a while before we even acknowledge what is going on in the rest of the world, and only then will things be looked at again. We have one of the best climates for solar power in the world, and some of the best manufacturers of solar panels. It would be a shame not to make the best of both.

The days of planning for a nuclear winter are thankfully long behind us, but disaster planning still plays a small part in our lives. With freak weather becoming an increasing phenomenon, it’s prudent to prepare for difficult situations. Even if that’s just having a solar backup generator and some canned food.

Nobody is saying we need to go back to the days of survivalism, but with the tornado in Joplin, frequent storms in Florida, Katrina, earthquakes in Japan and the volcano in Iceland, the planet seems quite restless.

Having solar backup generators around is a great way of being prepared for the worst while using it to benefit today. Many people spent a lot of money on food and equipment that ended up going to waste. The trick with preparing for the worst, is only buying things you can use in everyday life. Like solar backup generators.

Anyone who has a cabin in the woods, or lives somewhere away from the grid will tell you that having a reliable source of power is invaluable for everyday living. It makes it easier to predict power availability, to enjoy basic amenities like refrigerators, freezers and things that many of us take for granted.

Having a reliable power source that is ready to take over if the grid goes down is worth more than money in my book. That’s where solar backup generators come in. They harvest energy during the day and store it in on-board batteries, ready for when it’s needed. If it isn’t required, it will retain the charge until it is.

Then, if the worst does happen and there’s a storm, or the local power grid goes down, you still have that reliable power source to depend on. Contrary to popular belief, solar panels don’t need blazing sunshine to work. Sure, they work more efficiently in direct sunlight, but they can still harvest a decent amount of power from diffuse daylight, like on a cloudy day.

For anyone who uses a gas-powered generator to keep the lights on should look at solar backup generators when it comes to having their generator serviced or replaced. They don’t need fuel, they don’t need much maintenance, they don’t smell, or make noise. If fact, you don’t even know they’re there most of the time. They work silently and simply provide power when you need it.

We are way beyond fallout shelters, nuclear bunkers and the unpleasantness of the 80s, but when nature flexes her muscles, it’s good to be prepared. Solar backup generators are a way of being prepared while also getting benefit during everyday life.

The solar power market in the US is set to grow immensely during the next year or so. That’s partly due to initiatives to increase the uptake of solar panels in homes, and utility level installations being planned and built across the country. With new thin film technology, and the acceptance of solar concentrators, this will only increase.

With the price of solar panel trackers coming down, and the reliability going up, the yield from an average PV array is increasing all the time. We are probably the most geographically blessed nation in the world for solar power.

The northern states still get 3.5 kWh/m2/day, with the south western receiving as much as 8.5 kWh/m2/day. That’s a huge amount of potential for generating energy from the sun. Add to that the amount of land we have to use, and the case for turning to solar to meet our energy needs is almost made.

We are also the biggest consumer of power in the world. Our power demand is roughly 7.2 times the total in Germany and nearly 15 times as much as Spain. With the current solar power market supplying 820 MW, it is still only a small percentage of what we need.

Currently, the US makes up 5 percent of global demand for solar panels, but this is expected to increase over the next year to 10 percent. The reason for this assumption is the slow spread of solar power throughout the United States.

Solar PV installations have concentrated in California for the most part. That is expected to spread much wider as energy prices rise, and solar panel prices fall. The aforementioned solar panel trackers will also have a hand in this as they will allow residential installs to generate the same power with a smaller setup.

Thanks to the California Public Utilities Commission, and their California Solar Initiative, solar power generation is becoming more popular than ever. As other states awaken to the possibilities and companies offer incentives to different states, the uptake should increase across the country.

As Spain demonstrated in 2009 when it reviewed its FiT, no company wants to depends on a single region for its solar-related income. Companies are slowly spreading their wings, and offering similar incentives to other states.

The rise of the utility market will also drive solar power into the future. We currently have 350 MW of grid-connected utility PV capacity in the United States. That is expected to increase as there is currently over 6 GW of solar power projects in various stages of planning across the country.

This is an exciting time for solar power. Solar panel trackers are cheaper than ever, thin film technology is a viable product and solar concentrators are making utility-scale installations realistic. With increasing power prices, energy security declining and a desire to live cleaner lives, the solar power market is only going to get bigger.

In a release that sounds more like science fiction movies of old than reality, the Japanese announced plans for a project to put solar panels in a ring around the moon. Scientists unveiled the plan yesterday at a press conference in Japan.

The idea is to put solar panels in a ring around the moon and transmit the power back to earth via laser or microwave link. The scientists estimate they would be able to produce up to 13,000 terawatts of electricity which would be received by specially designed receiving stations on earth.

With the events at Fukushima, and the relative instability of the Japanese islands, nuclear power is understandably out of favor right now. This means we are beginning to have to look elsewhere for our power.

The plans were unveiled by Japanese construction giant Shimizu Corporation’s research division, and would result in a 6,800 mile-long band of solar panels stretching around the light side of the moon’s equator. It would be up to 248 miles wide and have a 12 mile-wide antennae to transmit the power back to earth.

In a further press release on the Shimizu website, it said: ‘A shift from economical use of limited resources to the unlimited use of clean energy is the ultimate dream of all mankind.

‘The Luna Ring, our lunar solar power generation concept, translates this dream into reality through ingenious ideas coupled with advanced space technologies. ‘Virtually inexhaustible, non-polluting solar energy is the ultimate source of green energy that brings prosperity to nature as well as our lives.

‘Shimizu Corporation proposes the Luna Ring for the infinite coexistence of mankind and the Earth.’ (Quote)

The company’s ambitious project would solve the world’s energy problems in one fell swoop were it ever to see the light of day. It could produce enough power for the entire planet and reduce carbon emissions by millions of tons each year.

The idea would require a lot of time in space, and robots to maintain the system. Just when the world powers are scaling back exploratory missions into space. The big challenge isn’t just technological. It’s also about the cost.

There is no mention of the cost here, but it is likely to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. They scientists say they think the soil on the moon could provide water, concrete, oxygen and the ceramics necessary for the project. If they were able to harvest and manufacture the materials while on the moon, it could save a significant amount of that cost.

Whether this plan ever comes to fruition or not, it proves that renewable energy really is the future. Solar panels around the moon, large scale commercial solar power stations and other renewable sources of energy are creeping their way into our world.

I hope this project gets the go-ahead. It would be nice if world governments cooperated for once, and it would be nice to like on a planet that didn’t have to contend with nuclear power.

Summer is almost upon us, and if you’re not lucky enough to live somewhere sub-tropical, it’s time to get outside. The yearly exodus into the great outdoors is something most of us enjoy. The chance to get some fresh air, spend time in the sun and relax a little.

This year we have a bevy of solar camping lights, fairy lights and other toys to make your time outside a little more enjoyable. I’ll run over a few of them here. I won’t mention manufacturers because I’m not selling them. I just want everyone to enjoy solar powered toys as I do.

First up are the inimitable solar camping lights. I know I talk about these a lot, but they are one of the most useful implementations of solar power I can think of. The new versions of these solar camping lights now come with remote controls so you don’t even have to get out of your sleeping bag to turn them off.

They are ideal for enjoying a piece of home comfort while out in nature. They don’t pollute, they don’t make noise, the light isn’t too bright, and they could last for years with absolutely no maintenance whatsoever.

With festival season on the way too, these solar camping lights and solar string lights are the ideal adornment for your tent as you enjoy a weekend of frivolity and music. What better way to find your tent in a sea of them than having a solar lantern shining like a beacon in the night.

Just remember to fasten it to the tent, or have it just under the canvas so it doesn’t get stolen!

Solar powered radios are also emerging as a realistic technology to brighten up summer days. Some are wind-up radios with solar panels to add power, others are dedicated solar devices. Both are eminently useful, don’t need external batteries and provide a decent signal strength to pick up your favorite station.

Solar phone chargers are also handy to have around if you absolutely must stay in touch. Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t use your smart phone or iPod. Just leave them out in the sunshine for a while and they will keep your batteries charged all day long.

Solar fairy lights are the last solar powered toy we’ll touch on today. They are ideal for parties or dining outside. String them up all over the place, make sure the panel has access to light, and enjoy hours of fairy light magic during the evening. They are ideal for creating a relaxed atmosphere and for lighting the area when it gets dark.

As each year progresses, so does technology. While I did explore most of these toys, especially solar camping lights, they have developed further. Each seems better quality, more robust, versatile and have a longer battery life than before. Of course that might just be me, but they do seem more enjoyable this time round.

The sun moves relative to the earth’s surface at the rate of 15° per hour east to west and by approximately 46° per year north to south. This means that fixed solar panels will hardly ever be perfectly aligned with the sun. That’s why the market in solar panel trackers is exploding.

Being able to orient your solar array towards the sun increases its yield by up to 40 percent. That means either, more power generated per panel, or less panels to generate the desired power. Either way, it’s a win win for solar power generation.

The technology at the heart of all this is solar panel trackers. The device that moves the array either east to west, or east, west, north and south. I would definitely suggest using this technology in a full-scale solar array, even a domestic one as prices are coming down and the money is offset by either buying less panels, or selling more power back to the grid (if you can).

There are plenty of resources online showing you how to make your own solar panel trackers. Some of them are very inventive, especially the one using bicycle wheels. I’m all for invention, using your hands and your brain to solve engineering problems. But I do have a problem with these DIY solar panel trackers.

It isn’t the design, it isn’t the making of it, it’s the inherent unreliability of the end result. Nobody can say that some 2×4 nailed together, a bicycle wheel and some angle iron is as hardy, reliable and safe as a professional solar panel tracker.

In situations where you depend on the power generated by a solar array, it’s far better to have a reliable source of power. You need to have confidence in the system, and always have the power on tap when you need it.

In a situation where the contraption is subject to the wind and rain, you need something that is designed to cope. Something that has a storm setting and an optimum angle built-in to default to during storms. You also need a device strong and robust enough to cope with wind while it’s trying to work.

As a DIY project, or an exercise in home engineering, these solar panel trackers are great. They teach essential skills, problem solving and keep solar power in the national consciousness. But, for real life applications in situations where you depend on the power generated, they aren’t so good.

You don’t want to wake up one morning only to have no power because your home-made solar panel tracker has stopped working and you have to repair it before your coffee.

Sometimes, spending money is necessary to achieve the full benefits of something.

Speculate to accumulate if you will. Solar panel trackers are one of those things.

The sad news of the tornado that killed 30 people in Joplin, Missouri reminded me of how subject we are to the elements. It prompted me to go out first thing this morning and check my solar backup generators, array, water pump, and secure everything on my property in case the winds came here.

Many people, including myself at times, take our way of life for granted. It’s situations like this that make me realize how small we really are. This isn’t the first tornado that has claimed lives this year. We have had this, other winds, the flooding in New Orleans and plenty of other reminders of Mother Nature’s might.

The town is going to be without power for a while. It’s always the same after a devastating situation. The power companies work hard to restore it, but there is often a huge amount of damage to the grid. While we still get out power from overheads, this will always be the same.

So now would be a good time to invest in solar backup generators. I’m not evangelizing, I want people to be prepared to survive these kinds of situations in the best way possible. If you have a family, being without electricity can be a serious problem. Sure, if you’ve lost your home, you have much more to worry about, but if you’re on the periphery, but power is out, it’s a pain.

That’s where solar backup generators come in. Having one in the garage or back yard for when you need it is an ideal safety net for when nature decides to remind us who’s boss. It’s noiseless, maintenance-free, and will work as long as there is daylight.

It won’t provide all the power you need, but it will be perfectly capable of running the necessities long enough for the grid to be restored. They do cost money, but the effect they will have in situations like the tornado in Joplin is worth more than they could possibly cost.

Solar backup generators have all the benefits of their gasoline or diesel powered counterparts, but without the downsides. They don’t make noise, they don’t need fuelling, they don’t need as much maintenance and they don’t stink for fumes while they are running.

The only maintenance they need is keeping the panels clean, and to be regularly drained and charged to keep everything in working order. While solar backup generators are a great idea, they don’t solve all the problems. Even the most recent models cannot produce enough power to keep an entire house going as if it were on the grid.

You would have to be sensible with power use while it was working, but it could keep freezers, refrigerators and lights working while power was out. It isn’t ideal to use a disaster to make a point, but in this case I think the point it too important to ignore. Solar backup generators make sense, so if you live somewhere that gets hit by tornadoes, get one.