Solar power is being built into transport and electricity programs

These three innovations use solar power in two ways. Tren Solar de la Quebrada and Otherlab integrate solar generation into vehicles. Australia’s Solar Sharer encourages households to use electricity at midday, when excess solar power is available.

Tren Solar de la Quebrada is Latin America’s first solar-powered passenger train. It runs through Argentina’s Quebrada de Humahuaca canyon, connecting UNESCO World Heritage sites with zero emissions. The train shows how solar-powered transport can serve destinations where tourism and environmental protection need to coexist.

Otherlab has developed a two-seat electric cargo scooter with integrated solar panels. The panels recharge the scooter in sunlight, supporting short urban trips without relying entirely on external charging. Its cargo capacity makes it suitable for errands and other journeys that require more space than a conventional bicycle provides.

Solar Sharer gives participating Australian households three free hours of electricity each day at midday. The program encourages households to use more power when excess solar generation is available. It aligns the price of electricity with the time of day when solar supply is highest.

TREND BITE

Two ways of matching consumption with solar supply - transport can use solar energy closer to the point of operation, while electricity programs can move household demand to periods of excess generation. Products and services that can change where they source power or when they consume it are candidates for the same approach.