#BiteSize: World’s First Solar-Powered Laptop Unveiled

Lenovo has sparked excitement with a solar-powered laptop concept, hinting at a future where your power source is the sun.

Dubbed the Yoga Solar PC, the company unveiled this sustainable proof-of-concept at the Mobile World Congress being held at L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.

Lenovo’s concept laptop incorporates a solar panel directly into its lid. The tech giant is claiming it to be the “world’s first ultraslim solar-powered PC” due to its 15mm thickness and 1.22kg (around 2.29 pounds) weight.

The Wired reported that the Samsung NC215S (2011) was the first laptop to incorporate solar power.

Currently, the Yoga Solar PC remains a concept with no production timeline announced.

“The device aims to bridge the gap between functionality and environmental awareness and represents Lenovo’s vision of achieving a future where renewable energy and innovation are intrinsically intertwined,” Lenovo’s press statement noted.

The solar panel uses 84 back-contact solar cells, placing all electrical connections behind the cells to maximize light capture.

This design achieves a sunlight-to-electricity conversion rate exceeding 24%  – “one of the highest in the industry.”

Interestingly, the 24% efficiency rate surpasses typical silicone-based panels in consumer electronics. The Verge reported it is less efficient than perovskite-enhanced panels (up to 43%).

Lenovo claims that just 20 minutes of direct sunlight can give you up to an hour of video playback.

Source: Yahoo!

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