Oct 28 2009

Here Comes the Sun . . . Power

Posted by: Kory Raftery

All solar, all the time - or at least for the better part of this week at the Anaheim Convention Center - where Solar Power International (SPI) '09 brought nearly 1,000 solar exhibits from every part of the solar energy industry.

The Solar Electric Power Association teams up with the Solar Energy Industries Association to host the massive conference, which organizers say doubled from 2008 to 2009. And some big names dropped by to share their opinions on the future of both utility-owned and delivered and distributed solar energy, including Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr. and the SPI keynote speaker - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The showroom floor featured solar panel producers and installers, courses for those interested in starting a solar business and even one solar engineering firm whose representative said proudly, "If you have to pave paradise to put up a parking lot, might as well put solar panels over the cars!"

While there were countless impressive solar displays and many different sellers of panels, tracking systems and other varieties of solar infrastructure, one exhibit stood out to me as the only game in Anaheim.

Aimed at serving the need for power during emergencies or in remote locations, Green Tow, a company based out of southern Utah, is trying to take solar panels to the next level when it comes to mobility.  

The company's founder Todd Myers admits that there are other trailers with solar panels, but he says "they're not as technologically advanced as his."

The mobile power block on Myers' trailers features Kyocera photovoltaic panels, a single linear actuator, batteries used by the military and a backup diesel generator... just in case. And he offers six different models for different situations - from those wanting to build a home in the wilderness to those who might allow their kids to bring their video games on family camping trips.  

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