Camping has definitely evolved over the years and roughing it is certainly not as rough as it used to be. Another camping challenge that may be overcome soon is the one related to power, courtesy of solar energy.
Space and weight is often limited when travelling to a camping spot and lugging a petrol powered generator and associated fuel can be a hassle, as well as environmentally damaging through associated noise and emissions. Traditional solar panels are an option, but can be too bulky to fit in the car or strap to a backpack. Folding solar panel kits help address space issues, but what if the solar panel was actually incorporated in the tent itself?
Enter the Orange Solar Concept Tent.
Designed building on lessons learned from the original Orange Solar Tent that was trialled at the Glastonbury Music Festival in 2003, the tent not only provides its own power, but is heated and acts as a communications station.
Using specially coated solar threads into conventional fabric (aka photovoltaic fabric), which has already been demonstrated to be possible, solar energy can be captured by the tent’s structure. The Solar Concept Tent takes this a step further with three directional glides which can be moved throughout the day to maximise its solar efficiency and also acts as a shade for the main tent structure.
The tent features a central wireless control hub that displays electricity produced and used, while also acting as a wireless Internet access point. Also integrated into the the hub is a wireless charging hub for portable electronic devices; utilising ‘magnetic induction’ technology. This passes an electric current through a coil embedded in the charging pouch that generates a magnetic field which creates a charge and powers the battery.
Also controlled by the central hub is an internal heating element embedded within the tent’s groundsheet.
As mentioned, the Orange solar tent is just a concept, so it’s not available at your local camping store. However, by publicising the concept, perhaps a manufacturer will make it a reality sooner rather than later and before too long camp sites will be dotted with happy campers benefiting from clean power from the sun.
