LED lighting solution spotlights areas without mains electricity
The ‘eneloop solar storage’ solution is a compact power harvesting, storage, and lighting system which is able to store electric power generated by solar cells during the day in a nickel-metal hydride battery unit. The system can then be used as a selectable night light and power source for charging small items of equipment, such as cellphones.
At present, 1.3 billion people worldwide live in areas with no or intermittent mains electricity which means that approximately 20% of the world’s population lives without enjoying the advantages of electricity. In most non-electrified areas, people use kerosene lamps, rechargeable lanterns, diesel generators and such like to provide lighting. Many of these forms of lighting equipment have numerous drawbacks, including toxic exhaust, low levels of illumination, and high running costs.
Cellphone networks are, however, widespread in these areas, despite the lack of an equipment-recharging infrastructure.
Panasonic began the production of the company’s ‘Solar Lantern’ in 2013 which was a a portable lantern that provides non-electrified areas with the light that people need. Now the company has added the ‘eneloop solar storage’ to the company’s lineup of products. The product comes with a straight tube LED and a bulb-type LED, which deliver bright, high-quality light, and the unit can also be used as a high-capacity power source for charging multiple cellphones. The new product will be marketed not only through existing sales dealers but also via international organizations such as NPOs and NGOs that are helping people living in non-electrified areas to develop a better standard of living environment.
The ‘eneloop solar storage’ system is equipped with two types of LED lamps with 1.5 W (bulb-type) and 5 W (straight tube) power output.
The system’s expected lifetime is approximately five years as the result of using the Panasonic nickel-metal hydride battery.
The system, which can be fully charged in about five hours with power from a high-power solar panel, can be used for lighting in homes, hospitals, schools, stores, etc., and as a power source for recharging small-scale equipment, such as cellphones.
‘Eneloop solar storage’ will be shipped to regions in Asia and Africa from November 2015.
Related articles and links:
https://panasonic.net/energy/battery/solarstorage
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