Australian soldiers could soon be using the sun to power their devices in the field.
Wearable lightweight solar panels developed by the Australian National University (ANU) convert light directly into electricity via SLIVER solar cell technology.
The ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems developed the SLIVER cells as part of a $2.3 million contract with the Department of Defence.
The project’s chief investigator Professor Andrew Blakers said the new sliver cells built by Transform Solar in Boise, Idaho were the basis for the wearable solar panels.
“We are able to use the sliver cells to make modules that can be bent around a radius of around a few centimetres,” Prof Blakers said.
“This means we can roll them up, put them in a package, carry them long distances and then unfurl them for use in remote areas.”
Prof Blakers said the wearable panels could be worn on a soldier’s helmet, on their front and/or back, their packs, their weapons and tents.
The solar panels were more rugged than conventional panels and they could operate in temperatures from minus 40 degrees to 65 degrees, he said.
Army strategist, Major General John Caligari, said using the sliver solar panels would reduce the weight soldiers carried in the field.
“We would carry dozens of AA, AAA, C cells and D cells for our operations in Afghanistan right now,” Major General Caligari said.
“The average soldier would be carry around half a kilogram of batteries to operate radios, night vision devices, torches, communications.
“If we were able to have a single source of power that meant we didn’t need to recharge our batteries then we would be able to run all those electrical systems and reduce our weight significantly.”
Prof Blakers said the sliver cells could be used also by civilians.
“I would see anyone who needs mobile power, that is military and also non-military applications.
“Obviously things like iPods, iPhones, remotes, sensors and the like can make use of this technology,” he said.
