As technological advancements continue to be made in computing, the industry’s latest frontiers become difficult to identify; in fact, it is arguably the case that the next evolutionary step in computing is not in computing itself but how people generate the power their desktops and laptops. With global warming and the rising cost of electricity bills at the forefront of public thinking, it would seem perfectly logical to explore the benefits of using solar or wind energy to power personal computers.
A computer’s traditional UPS (uninterruptible power supply) provides a connection to the mains electricity supply and offers protection from various problems, including voltage surges, spikes and sags. The more expensive UPS units adjust automatically to work with power sources between 100 and 240 volts and many feature environmental saving modes; notwithstanding this, a standard UPS installed in a typical desktop computer will consume a relatively substantial amount of electricity throughout the day, which is a problem in both a financial and environmental context. Whilst energy efficient UPS units can be of some benefit, solar panel and wind generator power may provide a more complete solution to the problem.
Unbeknown to many people, a desktop computer can be hooked up to a device that generates electricity via wind or solar power. To understand the potential benefits of solar or wind powered computers, it is first necessary to appreciate that the average power consumption of a desktop computer and monitor, with a combined wattage of, say, 150W, and running for 7 hours a day throughout the year, would burn approximately 380 kWh (kilowatt hours). |
This is hardly insubstantial and, because power and usage rates vary enormously, it is quite possible that a particular desktop computer would demand an even greater amount of juice. Can the sun and wind provide sufficient quantities of energy to power the typical personal computer?
The short answer is that just about any PC, laptop, office computer or server can source its power from batteries charged by solar panels or wind turbines. To avail of solar or wind power technology in this way, it is obviously necessary to purchase the right equipment. In the case of generating solar power, a kit designed for home or office use will usually comprise a number of solar panels (to be fitted on the roof in most cases), a charge controller, 12-volt battery, DC-to-AC inverter and all the necessary cables, clips and connectors. A wind power kit contains more or less the same equipment, with the exception of a wind generator or turbine in place of solar panels.
The solar kit works by sourcing energy from the sun via the external solar panels, which are connected to a charge controller that controls the current sent to the 12-volt battery. A DC-to-AC inverter converts the power stored in the battery and provides a standard electrical socket, into which the computer or server can be plugged. It is usually necessary to fully charge a solar panel or wind generator powered battery before use. It is also worth noting that solar panels are rated according to their peak capacity, which is rarely achieved due to changing weather conditions; as such, solar panels ought to exceed the required wattage of the computer by 25 per cent or higher.
Have a look at the web pages below for some excellent solar power and wind generator kits that you can use to run your computer. |
