Taiwan maker Yii Cherng’s SC-M model can provide power through solar and USB connection charging.

The green energy investment boom has the market poised for growth, but a silicon panel shortage and slow adoption limit production.

The photovoltaic industry has seen a surge in growth worldwide as more and more consumers adopt solar energy as an alternative, economical power source. The sector remains viable as a multibillion-dollar business as long as economies keep up demand for renewable energy systems.

Manufacturers in mainland China and Taiwan, however, are not making solar chargers a niche market just yet, noting that the industry is still largely seen as unstable. Both regions offer several types of solar chargers. There are models that do not rely entirely on solar power, employing other modes such as USB cable, AC adapter or car cigarette socket to power up portable electronic devices.

The production of solar chargers at present is limited due to a shortage in silicon wafers—the main material used to make solar panels, a key component of solar chargers. Other factors include the high cost of panels and solar-generated power, and the low energy conversion efficiency of solar panels.

These limitations push manufacturers to develop solar chargers designed for small consumer electronic devices. Models highlight multifunctionality and safety, product traits that will surely go a long way in makers’ desire to eventually penetrate the large-scale applications market as well.

	Taiwan maker Drow’s latest model, the SIU-400, is designed to power small home and office appliances.

Ninety percent of manufacturers in mainland China are based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. However, only a few specialize in solar charger production. A greater percentage is composed of photovoltaic product providers and other electronic and power supply manufacturers.

Portable solar chargers on the mainland are compatible with various electronic gadgets. These use either lithium or NiMH batteries, which help bring down the cost. To boost buyer confidence, makers compensate for the low-efficiency issue by adopting high-quality solar panels and controller ICs. While this significantly raises unit costs, suppliers believe the strategy will sustain consumer interest in the long term.

With the solar charger industry just beginning to mature, makers are taking it slow with large-scale applications. They are instead moving forward with developing practical units for mobile phones, digital cameras, music and video players, and GPS units.

Shenzhen Huatai Industrial Co. Ltd’s recently developed SCD-005 can charge mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 and MP4 players, and other small devices, as well as provide emergency lighting at night. The model has an LED flashlight. It uses lithium or NiMH storage batteries in place of the more-expensive rechargeable batteries. When exposed to sunlight, the SCD-005 can draw up to 300mA at 5V. Shenzhen Huatai has secured patents for 13 of its products so far.

Xiamen Tenia Solar Energy Co. Ltd has all-in-one offerings with its TEA6A01 and TEA6B11 series. The TEA6A01 can be used both as a charger for mobile phones, digital cameras, CD, MP3 and MP4 players, and iPods, and as a flashlight. This series has three models, which use 0.6Wp, 1.0Wp or (0.6Wp+1.0Wp) solar cells and 3.6V 1,000mAh, 1,800mAh or 2,200mAh NiMH batteries.

The TEA6B11 has an ultra-bright LED that is ideal for camping activities or in areas where electricity is limited. It adopts 5Wp solar panels and 3Ah/12V lead-acid batteries with an output as high as 40W. Xiamen Tenia’s international sales manager, Jessica Lin, said the company is developing units with lithium storage batteries for economic reasons.

Shenzhen Interda Electronic Co. Ltd has come out with a universal solar charger that has a built-in LED flashlight. The ITD-SC-001 can use either solar or AC/DC power to charge mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 and MP4 players. The 120x73x15mm device has 5.7V output voltage, 400mA output current and 2,000mAh power capacity.

The STD9001 from Shenzhen Sunny Tech Co. Ltd is a universal solar charger that has 17 percent switching efficiency, a feature that has attracted big companies such as China Mobile, China Unicom, Nokia and BP Oil.

The PD0079 solar charger from Shenzhen Greattong Electronic Co. Ltd is suitable for 5.5V mobile communications and digital entertainment equipment. It generates 50mA output current.

	Shenzhen Interda of mainland China has come out with the ITD-SC-001 universal solar charger with a built-in LED flashlight.

There are 20 suppliers of solar chargers in Taiwan and the number is increasing. Makers from the region mostly target the travel industry but they partly supply the in-car electronics market as well. Units have high brightness LED flashlights and come with UPS capabilities. Other safety features include battery management protection, reverse current protection, and over-charging and over-discharging regulators.

The development of solar chargers in Taiwan is still at the exploratory stage, owing mostly to the technology’s low power generation rate. Like their counterparts on the mainland, solar charger makers in this region are consequently inclined to invest in models suited for small electronic devices, marketing the chargers as emergency products. They also give attention to safety features and functions.

Yii Cherng Int’l Ltd has several portable solar charger solutions that are especially designed for digital cameras, mobile phones, iPods and PDAs. Its SC-M model can provide power both solar and via a USB cable. It has control functions to regulate charging and protect the batteries. The model has 500mA power input with 20V, 15V, 10V and 5V voltage adjustment. Charging four AA batteries under direct sunlight takes 10 to 12hrs.

Drow Enterprise Co. Ltd’s latest model, the SIU-400, is designed to power small home and office appliances such as cameras, electric fans, laptops and TVs. Its safety features include battery management, temperature and charging overload protection. The SIU-400 has an alarm that alerts the user when the unit is low on battery. The model also functions as an outdoor UPS, and can switch internal 12V DC battery into AC voltage and provide continual power supply of up to 400W. It can be charged via an AC adapter, cigarette socket or battery cable.

	Xiamen Tenia of mainland China has the TEA6A01 series, which can be used as a charger for mobile phones, digital cameras, CD, MP3 and MP4 players, and iPods.

As silicon solar panel manufacturers face a supply crisis and the cost of power generation remains high, so do the prices of solar chargers. These are even seen to move upward by as much as 10 percent in the coming months.

Shenzhen Huatai’s prices range from $10 to $40. According to its sales manager, Yang Yuankun, the prices are mainly influenced by the cost of solar panels, which account for about 30 percent of the total product cost.

Xiamen Tenia’s units are quoted between $15 and $30. High-powered models go as high as between $50 and $100. Solar panels account for about 40 percent of Xiamen Tenia’s manufacturing costs. Lin said that no reduction in prices is expected unless the company receives bulk orders.

Shenzhen Interda’s ITD-SC-001 is sold at $8.60. The multifunction solar charger is relatively low-priced because it does not have storage batteries. William Hu, Shenzhen Interda’s sales director, predicts prices will either slightly increase or remain at current levels in the coming months.

Shenzhen Greattong’s PDA0079 is priced at a low $2.85, without storage batteries.

In Taiwan, each unit is quoted at $30 FOB. This rate is partly influenced by the cost of power generation. Solar power production is 25 to 40 cents per kilowatt-hour—seven times higher than the average cost of traditional power generation.

	The PD0079 solar charger from mainland China’s Shenzhen Greattong is suitable for 5.5V mobile communications and digital entertainment equipment.

Manufacturers in mainland China are gaining ground in terms of production. This is seen as a determinant for increased revenue for the new year.

Shenzhen Huatai produces 10,000 units every month at a factory staffed by 100 workers. Solar chargers generate $1.2 million or one-third of the company’s annual revenue. Shenzhen Huatai expects this amount to double in 2008. The company also manufactures solar lights and solar panels.

Xiamen Tenia can turn out close to 10,000 units a month. These units account for 20 percent of the maker’s earnings, which are seen to grow 100 percent this year. The company mainly produces solar chargers, solar lamps and power systems.

Shenzhen Interda manufactures four types of solar chargers. Its estimated sales of $2 million in 2007 is expected to increase by 100 to 150 percent in 2008. The company has been manufacturing earphones and various computer peripherals since 2003. It started producing solar chargers in April 2007.

Shenzhen Greattong, established in 2001, has one factory in Shenzhen and another in Huizhou. The maker, which also produces PCBs, entered the solar charger market last year.

Makers have secured certifications for their products to increase unit value while ensuring buyer satisfaction.

Taiwan maker Yii Cherng’s products, which also include travel kits for portable devices, laptop accessories, USB retractable cables, IEEE 1394 FireWire cables and RJ11/RJ45 jacks, are CE- and RoHS-approved. Yii Cherng’s production facility in Guangdong in mainland China is ISO 9001-certified. The company was established in 1988.

Drow’s products are approved under CE, E-Mark, LVD and ETS standards. Founded in 1984, the OEM supplier produces AC voltage regulators, DC-to-AC power inverters, DC-to-DC converters, portable jump starters, solar chargers and switching battery chargers.

Despite a positive growth forecast, manufacturers are taking it step by step with regards to the export business. This is because the market has yet to reach commercial-scale status. However, some makers like Shenzhen Huatai have gone full speed by concentrating its business on the overseas market.

Xiamen Tenia and Yii Cherng export their solar chargers, but the former has taken a more bold approach shipping most of its units overseas.

Shenzhen Greattong said it is still feeling its way around the market.
Shenzhen Interda recently entered the export business but still reserves a large percentage of its products for domestic buyers. According to Hu, foreign buyers are still being cautious when it comes to purchasing solar chargers because of their novelty and high cost.