A solar powered radio is a portable radio receiver powered by photovoltaic panels. It is primarily used in remote areas where access to power sources is limited.

History

The solar powered radio first came into existence in the 1950s, developed by General electric

General Electric

General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...

. It weighed just 10 ounce

Ounce

The ounce is a unit of mass with several definitions, the most commonly used of which are equal to approximately 28 grams. The ounce is used in a number of different systems, including various systems of mass that form part of the imperial and United States customary systems...

s and is capable of working without light and recharging. It contained seven solar cells, four transistors and a small battery. In 1954, Western Electric began to sell commercial licenses solar powered radio, including other photovoltaic technologies.

Significance

Solar powered radios provide the people, and in particular the women, of the rural areas of Democratic Republic of Congo with access to information and enable them to share ideas and practices. The local radio listener's club involves itself in debating issues like human rights, women’s rights, gender education, Combating HIV/AIDS, animal husbandry, agriculture, food security etc. using knowledge gained from listening to the solar radio. Not all people in the area were supplied with solar radios, which was dealt by listening to the radio in groups and sharing of the radio among different households. Solar radio had also played a significant part in improving communication facilities in other parts of the world including Sudan, East Timor etc.

Advantages

• Solar powered radio eliminates the need to continuously replace batteries, which can be an advantage in remote rural areas.

• Solar radio provides communication facilities to less developed nations in Africa.

Solar radio provides ways of utilizing technology to extend reach and meet the ever evolving communication needs of diverse audiences, particularly in the African continent.

See also

• Solar cell phone charger
  Solar cell phone charger
  Solar cell phone chargers use solar panels to charge cell phone batteries. They are an alternative to conventional electrical cell phone chargers and in some cases can be plugged into an electrical outlet....
  
  
• Solar notebook
  Solar notebook
  The solar notebook is a laptop with powerful batteries that are recharged by solar panel attached to the notebook.- Features :Unlike regular laptops, some models of solar notebooks come with a flap-like structure which functions as a solar panel and can be removed if required. This generates...
  
  
• Solar powered calculator
  Solar powered calculator
  Solar powered calculators are hand-held electronic calculators powered by photovoltaic panels mounted on the device. They were introduced at the end of the 1970s.- Features :...
  
  
• Solar powered fountain
  Solar powered fountain
  A Solar powered fountain is an electrical fountain powered by solar panel. The solar panel either forms a part of the fountain or is kept separate and is connected externally to the fountain.- Features :...
  
  
• Solar powered flashlight
  Solar powered flashlight
  Solar powered flashlights are flashlights that can be powered through solar energy using solar cells as well as through batteries. Most of these flashlights run on LED lights due to the low energy consumption cost.- Features :...
  
  
• Solar fan
  Solar fan
  A solar fan is a mechanical fan powered by solar panels. The solar panels are either mounted on the device or are installed independently. Solar fans mostly do not require secondary power sources other than solar power, as most of them are used for cooling purposes during day time. Some types are...
  
  
• Solar street light
  Solar street light
  Solar street lights are raised light sources which are powered by photovoltaic panels generally mounted on the lighting structure. The photovoltaic panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers a fluorescent or LED lamp during the night.- Features :...
  
  
• Batteryless radio
  Batteryless radio
  Radio receivers were originally operated by battery. The term batteryless radio was initially used for the radio receivers which could be used directly by AC mains supply ....
  
  
• Windup radio