The various energy crises, such as the transition to carbon-free energy, are not without consequences in our daily lives. Manufacturers are aware of this and are always offering more solutions to help us achieve a certain energy independence through battery power and appeals to the benefits of the Sun god.
Energy is at the heart of global concerns and the transition to a carbon-free civilization is not just a question of large infrastructures. Without repeating the cliché about small gestures, did you know that the solar resource, only on roofs, in France is estimated at 350 GW while the deployment objectives by 2050 are between 100 and 150 GW?
The production of solar energy, its storage and its distribution were therefore in force at IFA, a general public exhibition, with solutions advocating ever more energy independence.
Electric handbag
Portable backup batteries have proliferated in recent years and the arrival of the iPhone 15 could give a boost to the market. Thus, at Anker there are no less than three nomadic batteries which are intended to be as practical as they are elegant.
Like the MagGo Wireless Charging Station, which takes the form of a portable battery that transforms into a wireless charging station for iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. Ugreen also relies on a connected battery to finely control the energy level of the product.
With its Jackery Explorer 300 Plus, the manufacturer offers the most compact solar generator on the market. It has the dimensions of a small bag (16.8 x 15.4 x 23.1 cm) for 5 kg and offers a USB-A port, a USB-C, a car port, an AC output and an AC input for recharging via the electricity network. Its capacity is 288 Wh, a rare figure for a product of this size.
It is possible to add a portable folding solar panel (252 x 300 x 20 mm folded and 970 x 300 x 2.5 unfolded) with a power of 40 Wp. Which, in ideal conditions, could recharge the 300 Plus in a good sunny day.
Transportable batteries for indoors or outdoors
The bulk of the market remains occupied by medium-sized solar power stations, transportable on foot or by car. In this area, there are two trends: miniaturization and increased capacities.
The Bluetti EB3A Solar Generator, for example, can power up to 600 W of electrical products and even offers fast induction charging.
At Anker, it is the Solix C1000 and its 1,056 kWh capacity that hits the mark, while displaying dimensions 15% smaller than the market average. These two products are of course capable of recharging using solar panels.
Megabatteries for the home
The house as a whole is becoming the target of solar power station builders. The aim here is to avoid the inconvenience of a power outage by automatically taking over. This is precisely what the new BLUETTI EP760 does with a power of 6 kW and which can reach 19.8 kWh by adding B500 batteries. It can also be powered by solar panels. This system could also be installed in isolated locations, and thus avoid the installation of poles which spoil our landscapes.
With its Anker Solix F3800, the brand is more versatile with a wheeled model with a capacity of 3.84 kWh. It will be ideal for protecting your computer installation and continuing to work for several hours without fear. If you add additional battery modules (six maximum), you can reach 26.88 kW. An optional module can be activated to allow it to take over in the event of power outages, and thus power your home for several hours.
To finish, let’s move away from the world of electrical stations and move on to everyday products, which solar power reinforces. When the devices are not designed from the start to integrate solar energy. You probably already know about Samsung remote controls that charge using solar power. Urbanista, after launching closed headphones and wireless headphones with solar charging, now offers a portable speaker, the Malibu.
Another example, SwitchBot has launched a robot to connect its curtains, which offers an optional mini solar panel so that it no longer has to be recharged. A trend which is only waiting to develop and which we hope to see increase at the next IFA.