The overall use of laptops for personal and business needs is increasing daily. Laptops are electronic devices, and they require a sufficient amount of power to operate. Since Earth has been running out of renewable energy sources, non-renewable sources are the only hope for the future and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, scientists and inventors have started thinking about charging electronic devices with solar power. Solar energy is extensively available, and the right technology can be tapped for charging laptops. Solar charged laptops can efficiently reduce overall carbon emissions.
In addition, they can save users from spending thousands of bucks every year just to charge their laptops. However, solar generators for charging laptops are already available. On the other hand, challenges are present when it comes to solar-powered laptops. Will it be a hit for the future generation? Let’s find out.
About Solar-Charged Laptops
Laptops require reliable power sources, and their inside batteries might need more for a day’s use. Laptop Repair Service experts also conveyed that many African and Caribbean countries still survive without electricity. So, solar charged laptops can be a revolutionary step for users in those areas.
In addition, traveling with your laptop will become easy if it’s solar-powered. What is a solar charged laptop, by the way? A laptop with solar panels, a compatible battery, and an inverter is called a solar-charged laptop.
Moreover, the laptop directly obtains energy from the sunlight and converts it into electricity required for its operation. A solar-charged laptop utilizes photovoltaic cells that must be embedded on the top of the notebook lid.
On a related note, one must consider the charging hours of the laptop’s battery. In addition, the concept of pass-through charging should be there. Pass-through charging means powering both the battery and the laptop simultaneously.
Furthermore, an additional cooling system is mandatory to prevent the laptop from overheating. Otherwise, the direct sunlight for long hours can damage the laptop hardware.
Solar charged laptops will be beneficial for both individual users and businesses. After all, solar energy is cheaper compared to electricity. The right implementation of solar-charged laptops will enhance productivity and reduce energy bill consumption.
Companies can save a lot if they replace normal laptops with solar charged ones. However, the functional area should receive enough sunlight throughout the year to make it a successful project.
Differences Between Solar Powered Laptops and Solar Generators for Laptops
Solar generators are devices to convert solar energy into electricity. Instead of buying a solar laptop, you can invest in a solar generator. The perks of using a solar generator for your laptop instead of a solar-powered laptop are:
- Cost-effective solution
- Eco-friendly
- Noise-free and low-maintenance
- Feasible solution for charging laptops and other devices
However, you must keep the laptop in the generator to charge the device. So, it affects the portability. Additionally, the battery inside a solar generator can degrade due to exposure to hot temperatures.
How does a solar charged laptop in this situation? A solar-charged laptop doesn’t require to be plugged into a power outlet, like the case of solar generators or charging stations, and this improves the portability of a laptop.
On the other hand, inventors need help with designing such solar-charged laptops. We will discuss them in the next section.
Potential Issues with Solar Charged Laptops
The concept of solar-charged notebooks is not brand-new. Samsung launched the NC215D solar-charged Netbook in 2011, and the device seemed to be a hit. However, it was not for everyone. First, users should belong to a country or region that gets plenty of sunlight to use such devices.
However, charging your laptop for a few hours might not deliver sufficient power to operate your laptop during the night time. For solar-charged laptops it can be a severe problem for solar charged laptop users.
On the other hand, working on a laptop under direct sunlight is another challenge. The screen can be barely visible under sunlight. The laptop with the latest screens at maximum brightness can hardly cut the chase.
In addition, the laptop requires enough cooling adjustments. Otherwise, direct sunlight can harm the laptop’s hardware. For example, lithium batteries can fail miserably at high temperatures.
For businesses, working with solar charged laptops can be difficult. Employees can’t work in the sun all day. Additionally, operation hours can vary from one business to another.
Do Laptops Require Solar Power?
Nowadays, lightweight yet powerful laptops come with improved and day-long battery capacity. For example, the M2 MacBook Air can provide an 18-hour battery life. So, do laptops need to be solar-charged?
Well, lithium power banks can do the work. On the other hand, solar generators are a great option. Otherwise, you have to be ready to face the problems that integrated solar panels of a solar-charged laptop deliver, and this is why only some people use solar-charged laptops.
How many watts does a laptop require for basic operations? The wattage of a laptop relies on the size of the laptop, its usage, the laptop’s brand and technology. The average wattage range runs from 30W to 200W. Spending on the availability of electricity and other parameters, you can decide whether you require a solar-charged laptop, solar generator, or a power bank.
Market Analysis and Feasibility for Solar Charged Laptops
The innovation of a solar charged laptop is the ultimate challenge for a business. Apart from designing, projected income, and operational costs, the business has to focus on market analysis and the needs of customers. Initially, the identification of the overall customer base is crucially important.
A marketing manager then develops a marketing segmentation. On the other hand, the company should test their products among target customers such as executives, managers, and business people to see the outcome.
The next step is to propose the product’s value in terms of quality and features provided. As a company or business, you must create a compelling need to buy. For example, you can advertise your solar laptops as the equipment for everyone’s daily needs.
In addition, the market is full of competition, and your company has to get in there with HP, Dell, Apple MacBook, Toshiba, and others. Moreover, as a new entrant, it’s always risky to launch electronics in such a powerful industry. You have to keep the following barriers in mind:
- Access to distributing channels, among others
- Capital costs of entry
- Legal constraints
The technical feasibility of this venture requires attention towards product design, production, distribution, distribution channels, and logistics. Financial feasibility consists of start-up and operational costs, cash projections, return on investment, resource plans and time schedules.
In Conclusion…
Laptops are widely used in every industry and consume a lot of electricity. So, replacing electricity with solar power for laptop operations can be a rebellious step for human beings and the environment. If your company wants to work towards the innovation of solar-charged laptops, it has to take care of crucial technical, financial, and social bumps. Remember that solar-charged laptops were launched before, and they were kind of a miss. So, it’s essential to analyze all the above-mentioned factors before getting involved in a solar charged laptop manufacturing hub.