FOR MOBILE SOLAR , THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
can be optimised to convert certain pieces of the sun ’ s spectrum into electricity , thereby increasing performance . However , the more complex the solar cell the more expensive it will be to produce and eventually purchase .
“ We ’ re trying to make our single junction as cheap as possible and then create a few technologies that give higher performance at higher cost points for those people that on the latter as another development which will produce demand for solar technologies in the coming years . As interest in ‘ smart homes ’ equipped with data-aggregating sensors grows , so will the need for a renewable power supply .
“ You want to put sensors in every corner of every room and you don ’ t want to be constrained by having to connect them to the power supply . That drives you to needing them
‘ A small solar UAV won ’ t fly for months at a time , but will spend days or hours monitoring large agricultural assets or carrying out remote search and rescue operations ’
really need the extra performance ,” says Kapusta of Alta ’ s efforts to reconcile cost and energy output .
Mobile solar comes down to earth Of course , the uses of a flexible , portable solar panel are not limited to aircraft . Alta intends to expand its technology to reach a number of emerging markets , including wearables , consumer devices and in-home IoT . The company is banking to be battery powered ,” Kapusta explains . What we ’ re trying to do is create something that eliminates the need to replace those batteries .”
Ultimately , the uses for small , flexible solar panels are many . As markets continue to recognise the benefits of solar power over charging cables and fossil fuels , companies like Alta will be ready to respond to demand . That old cliche , ‘ the sky ’ s the limit ’? Well , for emerging solar technologies , that isn ’ t quite true .
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