Solar-Powered Charging Systems to Help US Hurricane Recovery Efforts

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), working in partnership with the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), is providing solar electric charging stations to help residents of Kiln, Miss., recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The systems will provide much needed power to this town of about 2,000 people, located 13 miles north of Bay St. Louis, Miss., and the Gulf of Mexico. The charging stations, whose photovoltaic (PV) panels make electricity directly from sunlight, will provide power to help rescuers and residents of Kiln. One system can supply up to 2 kilowatts of electricity, enough to charge base station radios or run a refrigerator. The solar panels and batteries for the system are mounted on a trailer and can be towed by a pickup truck. A smaller mobile unit that can power up to a 600-watt electrical load will provide enough power to charge mobile phones, laptop computers and hand-held radios. The Florida Solar Energy Center will provide a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic system that is also on a portable trailer. “With just the light of the sun, people trying to rebuild from the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina will be able to keep vital communications equipment […]

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