Can Your TV Remote Charge Itself? The Indoor Solar Revolution

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Ambient Photonics is innovating low-light indoor solar cell technology and claims to offer up to three times more power than competing solutions with its unique dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), even in the dimmest conditions.

The company aims to revolutionize the market by eliminating the reliance on disposable or rechargeable batteries. “In today’s world, connected electronics require ongoing power, which too often derives from disposable or rechargeable batteries,” said Ambient Photonics’ Co-Founder & CEO Bates Marshall in a statement. “Ambient light power is the key to doing so efficiently and sustainably by keeping billions of batteries out of landfills and allowing companies to minimize carbon emissions.”

The importance of this innovation is not rooted only in the enhanced power output but also in the environmental impact- the company believes it can contribute to a greener future by replacing heavier, thicker batteries with sleeker and more sustainable solar cells.

According to Interesting Engineering, the company is expected to unveil its first bifacial solar cell at CES 2024 in Las Vegas- tech that would allow the solar cell to simultaneously harvest light energy from both the front and back. This means that a device equipped with this technology can harness power from two sides, thus generating more energy- for example, a remote control operating on the new indoor solar cells could power itself whether it rests face-up or face-down.

Ambient Photonics claims it has already caught the attention of leading manufacturers, making them recognize the potential of the new tech and integrate the solar cells into mainstream electronics. The company has reportedly been making large-scale shipments of indoor low-light cells from its manufacturing facility in California, which is capable of “printing” solar cells in any shape or size.

Marshall expressed his optimism regarding a greener and more sustainable future, stating: “Our cutting-edge technology will play a crucial role in powering the next generation of smart home devices.”