The photo is sourced from Bluebolt Outdoor
The solar panels have the capacity of 135 watts (W), which is enough to watch over 500 hours of TV shows on portable devices, and the capacity of the lithium-ion batteries is 55 ampere-hours (Ah), enough to fully charge a dozen smartphones. The benches have LED lighting, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot and environmental sensors that make it possible to monitor the air and shut down power in case of floods or fires. Similar benches will soon be introduced to educational institutions in Texas, Arkansas and Illinois.
The innovation from Bluebolt Outdoor is yet another in a series of solutions facilitating the off-grid use of solar energy. Previously, Autarq created roof tiles with embedded monocrystalline solar cells. Each tile has a power output of 10 W, adding up to 120 W per square metre (12 tiles) of roofing. Autarq estimates that 40 square metres of PV tiles will be sufficient to generate 3,850 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of a four-member household. The roof tiles operate within the temperature range between -40°C and +85°C and can withstand a load of snow.
Off-grid panels are also used in transport. For instance, Paired Power developed a canopy for electric vehicles equipped with 4.6 kW solar panels, charging sets and energy storage devices with a capacity of 42.4 kWh. Electricity generated during the hours of sunlight is channeled to the storage devices, whose capacity is enough for an electric vehicle to run 370 km without recharging. The cost of the unit varies from $28,000 to $78,000 depending on the capacity of the storage devices and the number of charging sets.
