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

It would have been perfect if I had one of these water bottles with me. I stumbled upon the LightCap 300 Solar Powered Lantern & Water Bottle at Amazon, and my interest was immediately caught. It’s really just a water bottle (definitely need drinking water on a camping trip) but it also has the added feature of 4 bright (super bright they say) white LEDs. That should be enough to light up my tent, shouldn’t it?

Even better, this lantern does not need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet to get charged. Just make sure to expose it to natural sunlight during the day and the installed solar panels will do the job. It really is perfect for where we’re going as there is nothing there but the sand, the sea, and the sun.

Other details: it weighs a mere 10.5 oz and has a translucent supposedly unbreakable cap. It also has focusing lens for brighter light.

How much will this nifty bottle set you back? Only $29.99 and shipping comes free. The bottle cum lantern comes in two colors: red and black.

Bob Marley fans would recognize those words in a heartbeat, and while I am not that much of a Marley fan, this song has been playing in my head for the longest time. I guess my nighttime lighting at home just fits the song perfectly – or vice versa.

For those who are into lighting as much as I am AND care about your impact on the environment as well, the Lucet should be in your Christmas wish list (for 2010 maybe).

The Lucet is a lamp designed by Rui Palma, and basically involves harnessing the sun’s power to light up your room at night. I have to admit, the concept is nothing new – that’s practically what every other solar gadget in the market does. There is one distinguishing feature of the Lucet that I think would make it appealing to a lot of aesthetically concerned people: it is designed so as to give the user freedom regarding viewing pleasure. That is, one can create different patterns with several Lucets, depending on one’s preferences.

The Lucet is quite small, with three roundish protrusions containing white LEDs each. In the middle, you have the power source – 2 AAA batteries. The whole thing can be slapped onto your windows – the ones that get the most sunlight throughout the day, of course – following any design that you want.

Unfortunately, this lamp remains a concept for now. Still, it is something to look forward to. I can already imagine my windows being a conversation topic with these lamps!

Photo courtesy of Eco Friend

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?