Beyond the Grid: Solar Power for Everyone

“In a nation where 99 percent of the population has access to electricity through the expansion of an expensive central grid power system, is there room for renewable energy growth?”

Owning a solar-powered handheld game in the 1980s was a dream for many Thai children. On hot tropical Saturdays in Bangkok, I remember huddling up with my school friends under trees, trying to get dappled sunlight onto our Japanese solar-powered handheld games. My objective was simple—to skillfully maneuver a spaceship away from incoming asteroids while making sure that there was constant sunlight streaming to keep the game operating. Even at school, I remember students cramming inside libraries and courtyards, and how the ones with solar-powered calculators would sit closer to the windows in order to catch the sunlight.

Solar technology can be traced as far back as the 7 BC. We’ve been using solar technology for entertainment and education since we were young, and as technology advances, we are now using solar technology to power more electrical appliances—from home lighting to even running cities—to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Today, Bangkok witnesses far more solar-powered traffic and road signs than ever before, as well as an increasing number of installed solar panels on buildings’ rooftops. Read More…