There has been a surge of interest in solar product development in recent years, driven by the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions. This increased focus has allowed product development firms like ours to gain a depth of experience designing innovative solar energy products. At SGW, we’ve been involved in several exciting projects that have enabled us to apply insights gained from diverse industries to the development of solar modules.
Our team has successfully undertaken the design and development of various solar-powered products, ranging from small-scale, solar-powered electronics to larger infrastructure and industrial solutions. These projects have presented us plenty of interesting engineering challenges. For example, unlike typical indoor products, solar projects are designed for outdoor use and must be rugged enough to withstand day-to-day wear and tear, and also need to endure storms, rain, and prolonged exposure to UV radiation — all without compromising functionality.
Solar-Power Storage
One factor that significantly influences solar product development is the need for onboard battery storage. Solar panels alone often prove inadequate to power a product or system effectively. To address this, we incorporate onboard batteries to provide supplementary power. However, the temperature can influence battery performance, particularly charging and discharging.
As a result, it is sometimes necessary to develop temperature control provisions within the product design to ensure optimal battery performance. Additionally, during the engineering and manufacturing stages, we also consider serviceability and the ability to repair the product.
Aesthetic Importance
While functionality and performance are important considerations when developing of any product, aesthetics play a pivotal role, particularly in consumer solar product development. Solar equipment may be acceptable in its raw industrial form for solar farms located in remote areas. However, when it comes to components integrated into homes or public spaces, aesthetics become paramount. We understand the importance of creating visually appealing solar products that seamlessly blend into their surroundings. This focus helps drive wider adoption and acceptance of solar energy solutions among consumers.
In many cases, solar-powered devices are deployed in off-grid locations where conventional grid power is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive. The ability to generate energy independently from the existing power grid is one of the key advantages of solar. Consequently, there is often a need to maintain connectivity between these devices and monitoring systems through telemetry outputs. This allows for efficient monitoring, maintenance, and data analysis, ensuring optimal performance and troubleshooting capabilities.
Solar Joins the Internet of Things (IoT)
As Internet of Things (IoT) technology continues to advance, the integration of solar product development with IoT capabilities presents exciting opportunities. Companies are exploring the potential of IoT to connect and collect data from solar devices on various scales, even pushing substantial amounts of data to cloud-based databases. However, implementing cloud-connected equipment requires careful planning to ensure data security and protection against potential threats.
The ongoing growth of solar as a viable power source for standalone products and systems necessitates continuous innovation product design innovation. We’re committed to keeping pace with the evolving power generation, volume manufacturing, and energy storage trends that shape solar product development initiatives. By embracing advancements in both large and small form factors, we strive to deliver cutting-edge solar solutions that meet the changing needs of our clients and contribute to a sustainable future.
