Portable battery charging technology has taken a major step forward with the launch of a new solar panel which can be placed on bags, the Times reports.

Welsh firm G24 Innovations has developed the device, which uses a range of ruthenium-based dyes that have the ability to generate electric currents when exposed to light.

The panels are capable of charging mobile devices such as an iPhone or a Blackberry even in low lighting but the complete process can take up to a day-and-a-half.

Roy Bedlow, Head of Marketing at the company, expressed his delight at the progress but admitted that there is a long way to go before the panels can be commercialised.

"I have to take a science project and make it a business," he told the newspaper.

"The power output needs to increase and the price needs to decrease. That's what will move this from being a 'nice-to-have' to essential."

G24 sent its first shipment to a Hong Kong bag-maker six weeks ago, but it has already spent almost $100 million, which was provided by some major corporate investors.

Mr Bedlow also confirmed that he is in talks with a top computer manufacturer about using the panels to power laptops when they are on the 'standby' setting.

The technology was first developed in 1988 by Swiss chemist Michael Gratzel and G24 has been making the devices at an assembly line in Cardiff for the past five years.

Sources:

Solar power of the future? It’s in the bag (06/12/09)

Technology (07/12/09)

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