That’s where solar power comes in. In the Netherlands there are homes already fitted with solar panels which generate power when spring starts all the way to end of the summer. But for us with a smaller budget there is a product concept: The Solar Plant.

Designed by Ku Bon-Seop, this small solar power generator is designed like a plant pot that sits nicely on your desk to provide your laptop or any gadgets with power.

When it’s a sunny day you can put the solar plant in the sun so it can generate power. As I understand from the product page it stores the power so you can plug-in your gadgets when they need to be charged.

I never thought about a useful thing like this and it makes me wonder why there isn’t anything useful and nicely designed like this already on the marked. I know there are several solar power generators available, most recently the Neuber Energy Sun bag fitted with solar panels. But the solar plant is small and aesthetics pleasing.

Being very money conscious a solar charger like this would be a great investment. Especially if you are someone with lots of gadgets like multiple phones, hand held gaming devices and mp3 players.

And off course most importantly it’s green energy, you would be reducing your environmental footprint. I hope this product gets picked up soon and more of the like start being available. Because with the state of oil prices solar power devices can sell like hot bread.

If you know any cool solar gadgets do share them here!

Product page

I’ve already done away with (nearly) all of the gizmos that won’t take rechargeable batteries, but I’m still left with power bricks and USB cables, and when I’ve looked a charging stations before they’ve tended to be expensive — or perhaps I just assumed they’d be expensive.

Enter the IDAPT i2 and i3 charging stations: two/three port charging stations complete with six popular charging tips.

Twenty-two tips are available, claiming to cover a whopping 3,500 devices, so chances are high that your gadget is covered. If not, and it takes rechargeable batteries, you can charge those as well.

Gadgets can sit neatly on the device even when not being charged, so you don’t really have an excuse for losing your mobile phone or iPod.

For those who get really peeved that many modern devices don’t have an “off” switch (my hand is up) — the IDAPTs do.

The price? Just £20 or £30 (that’s about $30/$45). The six charging tips supplied are iPod/iPhone, microUSB, miniUSB, Nokia 2, Samsung 4 and Sony Ericsson 2.

Oh yeah, you can get them in bright pink, too. Natch.

IDAPT

First up, it’s a stand for your mobile phone. It uses a high-tech rubber sticky surface that holds your cellphone in place yet leaves no marks on the handset.

It comes with multiple charger tips so, no matter what brand of cellphone you have, you can recharge the battery.

There are also two USB ports and four card reader slots, so you can transfer data and charge or use all your USB gadgets as well.

It’s all powered via USB, and if you want to use it on mains power instead you simply need to use a USB mains adapter.

At just £14.99 (about $25) it’s a decent little gizmo for keeping things tidy on your desk.

Product page

Here’s a neat little invention that can solve those issues – the Neuber Energy Sun Bag. It’s basically a carrying bag and charger all in one. It has some Konarka Power Plastic solar panels on the outside, ensuring that you will have enough juice even if you go to the middle of nowhere with no electric power. All you need is the power of the sun and you’re good to go!

Obviously, you are putting a premium on convenience here. The bag weighs in at only 500 g – roundabouts a pound – with all the stuff necessary to make it function included. That will, of course, be heavier with your netbook, cell phones, mp3 players, etc. in it. The picture shown above is a basic model, but there are 36 other colors that you can choose from, so throw your fashion worries out the window!

More than the convenience, however, the idea of using solar power is definitely a positive one – you can do your bit for Mother Earth. The price, though, is not that nice as it is supposed to go for 99euros (a little over $100). If you travel a lot, I say that it’s worth it, don’t you think?