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This article was updated on October 2023
When it comes to solar power, it seems that there are more and more gadgets popping up in the market.
Solar is also growing in the energy market as a popular source of energy. With more solar fields being constructed, more home owners putting solar panels on their homes, and solar beginning to take precedence in the energy world in general, we’re taking some time to focus on a few quirky uses for solar power.
Check out our list of five great– and slightly unusual– ways to use solar power.
With millions of solar installations happening globally every year, we could be looking at the beginning of a future that is at least partially powered by our very own Sun. Viva la solar!
Related: The Best Solar Products in 2023
1. Solar Tents
Those who are really into camping may already know about this solar-powered tent!
When it comes to the outdoors, now you can camp in style.
You can charge your smartphone or phone so easily without having to drain the battery or turn your car on to get your phone up a little bit.
With everyone having smartphones these days, it’ll be nice to have such a cool and convenient feature built into your tent.
A solar-powered tent is perfect because generally, most people go camping during the warmer, sunnier months.
Not only can you easily charge your phone, you can also produce a little heat for chillier nights AND provide light at night without requiring a flashlight or lamp. There are many varieties out there, so research and find the one you like the most!
2. Solar Dog Houses Heaters
What could a solar dog house possibly do?
As it turns out, quite a bit. This unusual solar product often means that your little pup will have his fill of a heating system that provides extra warmth at night and during the cooler seasons.
Not only that, there can be a heat-activated wifi security camera, LED lighting, and sometimes even music. Not bad for a dog’s home, eh?
3. Solar Carports
Carports are very popular among airports and urban areas, and after all, the cars must be left someplace.
Carports get a little solar upgrade that provides shelter from the blistering sun and generate their own power.
These structures create a shaded covering that does not require maintenance but creates energy and is economical at the same time!
4. Solar Huts
What is a solar-powered hut?
Essentially, it is a small hut-style home that uses the sun to power the home on a small scale. From Africa to India to Singapore, people are channeling the energy that our sun provides and going off of the grid.
They can use these solar huts to have lights on into the evening, charge their phones, power small appliances, or cook food. This idea isn’t so much unusual as it is uncommon, and it’s being put to use all over the world. Hey, it’s an extremely useful idea!
5. Solar Tech Chargers
You can power your technology increasingly more by way of our wonderful sun!
Everything from flashlights to tablets and thermostats can be powered by a portable solar charger.
Just plug into the gadget of your choice and you can start putting some juice into your tech instead of having it slowly drain out.
Portable solar tech chargers allow you to charge up a tech item no matter where you are, from out on the bike trail to hanging out at the park.
This is great for people who really would rather use solar to power their lives over fossil-fuel-generated energy.
No matter what it is, from your music player to your phone, you can use this device to basically power up anywhere! It’s a totally different mentality from being reliant on an electric plug at a Starbucks.
The world is your oyster, and the sun will power your tech devices– that’s incredible!
At the end of the day, solar products are on the rise. It’s not only a more planet-friendly technology, but it’s also just far more useful than relying on electricity! Unless it’s a cloudy day, you’re going to get the full benefit of this tech. Or just save up energy from those sunny days and carry it over.
Solar is cool, fun, and totally convenient, just like these products. Savor the unorthodox novelty now, because in the next ten years, solar is going to be everywhere.
Take a look at these awesome solar-powered gadgets available on Amazon right now:
Bestseller No. 1
Emergency Crank Weather Radio, 4000mAh Solar Hand Crank Portable AM/FM/NOAA, with 1W 3 Mode...
- ★【 Newest Design MD-090P】Based on MD-090 emergency flashlight radio, we've optimized and upgraded a lot of features. A biggest 4000mAh rechargeable battery can charge more than one smartphone, the most powerful lighting functions include super-bright 3 mode flashlight and motion sensor reading lamp. Also, external antenna, electricity label, comfortable hand crank, tap switch fit all your needs. The MD-090P is the best value for emergency radio in this market.
- ★【The Most Powerful Life Saver Radio】Nature is unpredictable, but you can be prepared and ready in the face of her fury. The emergency crank radio with weather band and phone charge professionally get weather broadcasts the latest weather and all hazard information for your areas like hurricanes, tornadoes and so on from 7 NOAA stations at a crystal-clear sound. Earns a critical time for you to get full preparation advance, keeping you and your family safe with this emergency weather radio.
- ★【4 CHARGING MODES】Compared with 2000mah or 1000mah emergency radio on the market, the solar radio has upgraded to 4000mAh rechargeable battery, found in every household and easy to buy in the local market or amazon store. Also, Micro USB charge, Solar charge, Hand-crank could also supply the flashlight radio last for days after the storm had passed until the power back on. No matter what emergency situation you find yourself in, this hand crank light never run out of electricity!
- ★【Super-Bright 3 Mode Flashlight And Motion Sensor Reading Lamp】 If you are an outdoor enthusiast or need to walk in places without lights, the flashlight radio with 3 modes flashlight is a great alternative, which farthest lighting range exceeds10m, farther than the most other solar emergency radio. Also, a reading lamp with a Motion sensor will greatly help you get up in the mid-night to avoid waking your family. Add to cart, you will never regret that you purchase this crank flashlight radio!
- ★【We Care About You and The ones Your loved】 In the past years, Our emergency radio has helped more than 10,000,000 USA Civilians to live through the hurricane, tornadoes and snowstorm season, like "Dorian", "Harvey, "Irma", etc. Your voice drives us to be the best. We back our emergency weather radio with 18-months Warranty! If you are not satisfied with this NOAA weather radio, we can refund you immediately as you contact us. And our customer service is here for you 24/7 for anything you need!
Bestseller No. 2
Evelots Hand Crank Solar Powered Flashlights ( 4 Pack ) Rechargeable Emergency Survival Flashlight...
- Handheld for Emergencies : Evelots set of 4 Crank Solar Rechargeable flashlights will last a long time and practical to have everywhere. Made with a built-In Rechargeable Battery which can be charged 2 different ways. Great for emergency use, camping, home, office, car, and many more
- Rechargeable 2 Ways : Hand crank generates power for more than 10 minutes of light per 1 minute's crank. Solar panels absorb all kinds of light, such as sunlight or lamp lights. Handy carabiner clip to attach to a backpack or key chain
- Powerful : Has 3 powerful LED lamps, providing ample lighting for a multitude of situations. Have handy for at home when the electricity goes out, in your car if you breakdown and you can use a beacon light for distress. Great to have in your backpack, on the boat or in the fishing tackle box
- Durable Design : Lightweight, durable plastic , small enough to store in your pocket. Comes with On/Off switch, Crank Lock toggle and carabiner clip to attach to anything. Batteries included. Dimension approx. 4.9 Inches Long x 1.9 Inches Wide x 1.25 Inches Tall. Weighs less than 3 ounces
- Based in beautiful Vermont, Evelots has offered Amazon customers unique products for more than 10 years with a 30-day easy return policy.
SaleBestseller No. 3
20000mAh Rechargeable Solar Powered Portable Fan with Led Lantern, 3 Speeds Cordless Battery...
- 【Long-lasting Battery Powered Fan】Our portable fan comes packed with a 20,000 mAh battery and hence it can easily last for about 18h(high)-32h(medium)-58h(low) once it is fully charged. Moreover, its USB Port is available as power bank through which various gadgets can be charged such as camera, mobile, etc. It's ideal for off-grid camping trips where you won't have access to power, but it's also handy to keep at home in case your power goes down
- 【Fast Solar Charging & 20000mAh Battery Operated Fan】With an impressive 20,000 mAh battery, this camping fan has an inbuilt 2.5x2.4ft mono-crystalline silicon solar panel. It can be charged up quickly via sunlight or charged it by using its USB ports. For a versatile solar fan that can be used during day-to-day activities or on outdoor adventures, the INNOPOWER is an excellent option for you
- 【3 Speeds & Ultra Quiet】Its lastest brushless, no-noise motor make it a powerful personal fan, and its high-speed setting delivers a refreshing breeze that will cool you down in no time. Even at the strongest speed, the noise is less than 28db. It brings you an ultra-quiet and comfortable coolness environment while you work,study or sleep. In addition, this cordless fan has 3 auto rest timer settings for you to set at 2h/4h/8h, customizing your own time based on different needs
- 【Super-bright Lantern & Emergency Survival Light】The rechargeable desk fan features a daylight lamp with multiple settings( low-100 lumen, high-200 lumen). Ensuring you're never left in the dark. Perfect for bedroom chilling, office, camping, barbecue or power outages lighting abilities, etc. Additionally, SOS red&blue strobe light can be used for distress situations, essential safety equipment for car, truck, boat, ship, or motorbike emergencies
- 【Built-in Aromatherapy & Hang Hook Fan】A unique air freshner slot located at the front of the fan. Just simply insert a scent pad into the container and add your favorite essential oil for a fresher breeze. This cordless fan can be 90° fold to stand as table fan, but also its rotatable hook, makes it easy for improving air flow inside camper tent, van, rv or small room at circulating air
SaleBestseller No. 4
10000mAh Emergency Hand Crank Radio with LED Flashlight, AM/FM NOAA Portable Weather Alert Radio,...
- 【10000mAh Power Bank】When we are trapped in trouble, this emergency hand crank radio with a 10000mAh emergency power bank may be our life-saving tool. The hand crank emergency radio works with most USB-powered devices, which can charge 2.5 times your phone when the NOAA weather alert radio is fully charged. The solar powered radio with hand crank has enough emergency power for important calls to your family, the emergency services, or for contacting assistance in emergency situations.
- 【The Advance Warning Radio】Nature is unpredictable, but weather radio can earn a critical time for you to get full preparation in advance, keeping you safe. You can get weather broadcasts the latest weather and all hazard information for your areas like hurricanes, tornadoes, and so on from NOAA stations at a crystal-clear sound in the weather radio. The telescopic antenna makes it a portable radio with the best reception. The big volume knob is designed for easy volume and channel adjustment. IPX4 waterproof can only prevent the emergency radio from dew but not deep water.
- 【3 TYPE POWER SOURCE】Compared with other NOAA emergency weather radios, the built-in 10000mAh rechargeable battery, the emergency hand crank radio with led flashlight is easily recharged by solar/hand crank/power plug(not included)and USB cord(included). No more power failure concerns in any situation. The fully charged emergency radio hand crank will last up to 90 hours only playing FM radio.No matter what emergency situation you find yourself in, this hand-crank radio never runs out of power!
- 【Portable Radio with Earphone Jack】 This emergency weather radio is small and portable, with size: 7.87×4.33×4.33 inch, 1.52lb. Noaa emergency weather radio is an ideal travel companion, you are not alone with emergency hand crank radio when you're outdoors. The emergency crank radio also provides a headphone jack for you to enjoy listening privately and get the news easily. We have re-set the location and style of the buttons to make it more convenient for you to use than other weather radio.
- 【3 Mode Flashlight And Motion Sensor Reading Lamp】 Vuebew emergency hand crank radio with LED flashlight will light you with a 1W flashlight and reading lamp. The flashlight features a built-in 1W bulb with 3 lighting modes: long-range, short-range, and a combination. In long-range mode, the illumination can reach the lighting range 75 m max, which is farther than most solar emergency radios. The 3 bright modes reading light will automatically close if you fold the solar panel down.
SaleBestseller No. 5
Solar Charger, 20000mAh Portable Outdoor Waterproof Solar Power Bank, Camping External Backup...
- High-Quality Portable Solar Charger - water-resistant, shock-resistant and dustproof solar phone charger, featured with carabiner, compass, and 2LED flashlight. Solar power bank provides more convenience in your daily or on your trip. Awesome for outside activities such as camping, hiking, and other emergency use. The solar USB battery pack can be regards as a nice gift.
- Two Charging Way - External battery charger with solar panel can recharge by solar or outlet. Compatible with your iPhone, Samsung, HTC, Nexus, Go-pro Camera, Tablets and other USB devices. More than 1000+ recharge lifecycle.
- Dual USB and Powerful LED Light - It makes it easy to charge two smartphones simultaneously or a tablet at full speed. 2 led lights can be used as flashlight with Steady-SOS-Strobe mode. Five pilot indicators show the status of the battery charger timely. The green light on when charging by a solar, blue light on when USB charging.
- Safety for Use - Made of eco-friendly silicone rubber and ABS PC material. CE, FCC, RoHS certified, reliable and durable. Solar charging is a charging way for emergency use, and solar panel charging efficiency will be influenced by natural conditions and random factors, such as day and night, season winter and summer, sunny, cloudy, rainy, and so on, so it may take a long time to be charged.
- Best Warranty for Solar Phone Charger - 12 months Warranty, 24h online after-sales service, Friendly replace policy. We take pride in the quality of our products. Any related issues are guaranteed with friendly REPLACEMENT or REFUND, and also support 24h online after-service. Please CONTACT US if you have any problems with the items from HQT-US Store.
Bestseller No. 6
Fashionclubs 4pcs/Set Children DIY Assemble Solar Power Car Toy Kit Science Educational Gadget Hobby
- [DIY for Creation]: 4 STEM projects solar car kit can be powered by the sun, for boys and girls aged 8-10 and older, improve your child's imagination and creativity by challenging them to build their own racer cars with easy-build pieces parts & accessories. Encourage your kids to explore solar energy from these DIY solar kits, exercising your kid's problem solving and hands-on ability.
- [No Batteries Needed]: Each of solar power cay toys includes a solar power panel that collects solar heat energy into an electric energy drive motor, which drives the gears to make the machine run smoothly. Offers your child practical experiences of working with green technology, let them learn about renewable energy sources and have fun doing it with.
- [Kids Safe]: All pieces of our solar motor kit are made with non-toxic ABS materials for long lasting, safe and ECO-FRIENDLY science educational toys, parts are smooth without raw edge, ensuring kids play safer and reassure parents.
- [Fun&Easy To Assemble,No Welding]: This STEM kit can DIY into 4 projects with step by step to create solar power racer, include motors, wires, connectors, solar panels, wheels and screwdriver, which are enough accessories to easily complete scientific projects. A great parent-child building project and puzzle all in one!
- [Great for a School STEM Project]: This science solar car toys will teach children how to engineer a car that uses solar power, while help to develop manual dexterity, problem solving skills, improve logical thinking, self-confidence and promotes the importance of teamwork & collaboration. Also a perfect STEM toy to encourage learning of mechanics and engineering in young children, enhance your children's science, technology and Math skills.
SaleBestseller No. 7
BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank, PD 18W Fast Charging 20000mAh Battery Pack with 4 Foldable Panels,...
- Brand-Oriented and Outdoor Charger Pro: With over ten years of experience in solar power banks, BLAVOR has already gained the favor and trust of millions of global users. BLAVOR only uses the highest-grade materials, to provide the most reliable and safe products to customers
- Upgraded Highly Efficient Solar Panel Charging: 4 premium panels can produce 1.2A Max (300mA*4, under 25000Lux sunlight) current to recharge the power bank, 7X higher solar charging efficiency than the normal single panel solar battery pack. Perfectly meet your power needs outdoors
- USB-C PD and QC3.0 18W Fast Charging: The unique PD 18W USB-C output can charge the laptop that supports PD protocol. The QC3.0 USB port supplies Max 18W output, 50% faster-charging speed, greatly shortness the time of recharging your device, and has zero damage to your devices
- Super Bright Camping Light and SOS Flashlight: 3-level brightness adjustable camping light copes with different outdoor use environments. The 3 modes of LED flashlight include normal electric torch mode, SOS mode, and strobe mode. Light up the darkness and secure your night while in an emergency or the wild
- REAL-RATED 20000mAh Solar Phone Charger: Real-rated 20000mAh high capacity, safer Lithium-polymer battery, 50% more cycling times than a normal Li-polymer battery. With a full charge it can recharge the iPhone14 4.6 times, Samsung S22 4.2 times, and the iPad Air twice
Bestseller No. 8
10000mAh Crank Radio, Emergency Radio, Solar Radio, NOAA/AM/FM Weather Radio, USB Type-C Charging,...
- Necessary for emergencies - built-in rechargeable battery with 10000 mAh for charging the mobile phone and tablet in an emergency, This emergency weather crank radio can reliably receive the latest emergency weather forecasts of NOAA and AM/FM radio stations , Emergency portable radio, a super bright torch with 3 modes, a reading lamp, SOS alarm, a hand crank and a solar panel for charging the battery. 48 LED Reading Lamp with 20 LED Flashlight
- 3 charging modes – the emergency radio with built-in 10000 mah Polymer Battery can not only be charged via a USB Type-C cable, but you can also power the emergency radio via the hand crank and solar panels to ensure that you can use the radio crank normally in an emergency.
- Emergency torch and super loud SOS alarm: this solar radio has built-in 3 LED torch modes and 1.3 W reading light There is an SOS siren and Compass. SOS siren can trigger a loud alarm and can be heard far to quickly attract attention and seek help. Compass can help you not get lost.
- You can quickly get the daily forecast by turning the knob instead of turning the knob up and down. FM / AM radio receives good reception (AM:520-1710khz, FM:87-108MHZ, NOAA:162.400-162.550MHZ).
- Small and waterproof- it is small and handy (160 x90x 80 mm), a weight of 500 g, with IPX3 protected against spray water at an angle of 60°. It does not take up much space when stored, and you can carry it anywhere in any bag or handbag.
Bestseller No. 9
4 Speeds Solar Battery Operated Fan for Camping, 10000mAh Portable Rechargeable Desk Fan with LED...
- [Solar & Type-C Charging]：Experience the freedom of dual charging options with battery operated fan—harness the power of the sun with the 3.8W high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar panel during outdoor adventures, or opt for the indoor convenience of Type-C charging. Whether you're camping, fishing, hiking, or in need of emergency power supply, our battery operated fan ensures continuous comfort in any environment. Embrace versatility and stay powered up wherever you go
- [4 Speed Level Adjustable]：Our battery powered fan feature state-of-the-art brushless motors for efficiency and durability. Tailor your comfort with 4 adjustable speeds, allowing you to personalize your cooling experience. Experience a maximum wind speed of up to 4.5m/s. The ultra-thin fan blades ensure superior airflow with minimal noise (
- [Fan and Power Bank in One]：Our rechargeable fan with 10000mAh battery. Enjoy up to 18 hours of refreshing airflow on the lowest setting and 8 hours on high. The package includes a Type-C fast charging cable and is thoughtfully configured with Warnlights, reminding you to charge on time. Beyond cooling, this versatile battery powered fan doubles as a power bank with two charging ports (in&out). Charge your smartphone, laptop, and essentials outdoors worry-free
- [Three brightness levels & Timers setting]：Immerse yourself in the dual functionality of our camping fan, seamlessly transforming into a super bright LED camping lantern with three adjustable brightness settings and 16 light beads. Tailor your experience further by setting it to automatically shut down after 2/4/6 hours, catering to your preferences. This not only conserves power but also ensures a peaceful and worry-free sleep
- [Portable & Sturdy]: Enjoy the easy portability of our rechargeable fan. With dimensions of 7.1*5.7*1.4in and a feather-light weight of 0.56lb, it effortlessly accompanies you on all your adventures. Constructed from robust ABS material, this travel camping fan is engineered to endure impacts and offers anti-drop features, making it suitable for various outdoor occasions. Its lightweight and durable build also make it an excellent choice for indoor use as a desk fan