Mobile solar charger firm announces first deal

UK solar cell manufacturer G24 Innovations (G24i) has today announced the first order for its lightweight solar cells designed for recharging mobile phones.

The chargers, which use flexible and lightweight Dye Sensitised Thin Film (DST) solar cells, will be deployed by Kenya-based Master IT Ltd to provide mobile communications to communities without ready access to mains power.

Tom Musili, managing director of Master IT Ltd, said that the technology would provide a durable and affordable means for users to charge their mobile phones. "Solar-powered chargers are not a new concept," he said. "However, current solutions are sold as premium products and have a poor record of efficiency and longevity. DST technology breaks down these barriers in an affordable way."

Speaking to BusinessGreen ahead of the deal earlier this week, G24i president Clemens Betzel said that the DST cell's ability to generate usable power in overcast and low light conditions made it possible to charge mobile devices using relatively small cells, while the fact that the technology does not rely on expensive silicon would make it cost competitive.

Betzel added that the company would initially focus on mobile phone chargers for developing world markets where electricity grid coverage remains poor. However, he also claimed that the company would aim to expand its offering to include mobile charging devices for developed markets, solar panels that can be integrated into clothes and, ultimately, larger DST cells for use on buildings.