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Uptake of solar-charged mobile devices 'limited'

Tags:
Photovoltaic,
Mobile,
Solar

Vivian Yeo ZDNet Asia

Published: 18 Aug 2009 08:39 BST

Solar or photovoltaic technology in mobile computing devices is still impeded by performance and price issues, and is not likely to entirely replace batteries anytime soon, according to analysts.

James Hines, Gartner's research director for semiconductor, told ZDNet UK's sister site, ZDNet Asia, in an email interview that performance is the "primary inhibitor to the practical application of integrated solar cells" in today's mobile devices.

Solar-powered battery chargers for mobile phones and other devices are already available in the market, but they are expensive and their performance is "poor", Hines said in a recent research document.

According to Hines, consumer electronics manufacturers are considering integrating PV technologies into more mobile devices.

In June, Samsung launched the Solar Guru in India, which the Korean mobile maker says has the capacity to provide five to 10 minutes of talk time by charging one hour in sunlight. Japanese vendor Sharp also unveiled its Solar Phone SH002 in June, the Nikkei Business Publications reported. Samsung could not be reached for comment, while Sharp was unable to respond by press time.

For these applications to be feasible, there must be "a significant breakthrough in PV technology" to improve energy-conversion efficiency and lower costs, Hines pointed out.

Photovoltaic cells, he said, currently have a low energy conversion, while mobile devices increasingly consume more power in active mode. To meet "a significant portion" of the power requirements of full-feature modern mobile devices, the solar panels would have to be larger than the devices, which makes portability more problematic.

"For this reason, products such as the solar-powered mobile phone will probably see limited uptake in the near future," said Hines.

Annette Zimmermann, senior research analyst at Gartner, noted in a document released last month that "in practice", it takes solar mobiles about a full day to recharge completely. "This will certainly limit the functionality, given that few users have the opportunity to expose their devices openly to the sun for such a long time."

The main selling point of these devices, she added, appears to be the "theoretical convenience for those who do not always have access to electricity", such as in emerging markets. On the other hand, the new technology will most likely have a higher price tag than any low-cost device, which does not match the price expectations of its target market: low-budget users.

Solar not battery replacement
Hines added that solar-powered battery chargers for charging a variety of mobile devices remain "the most practical application in the near-term".

Such battery chargers could even be integrated into backpacks, laptop cases or garments. However, these are a "supplemental" means of charging, in situations where grid connection is not possible or convenient.

Due to their power limitations, integrated solar cells are unlikely to replace batteries in mobile electronic devices, Hines said. "Instead, they will be used in conjunction with energy-storage devices such as batteries to extend their operating time."