Solar-powered Sharp LCD TV

Juniper Foo | Jul 08, 2008

At 26 inches for an LCD TV, you'd probably sniff at its puny dimensions. But Sharp's shining some light on this particular flat panel, literally. Its 26-inch LCD TV, showcased at this week's G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, is solar-powered. While we can see its appeal in an age of rising utility costs, this set was designed specifically for Third World nations where the nearest AC mains is probably a town away. Sharp claims its experimental eco outing guzzles 30 percent less power than its low-power rival (though no names were mentioned).

While this is intended for those earning less than US$2 a day, it's by no means an el cheapo. It's a svelte 20mm thin, with a decent 10000:1 contrast ratio that's not out of place in a middle-class home. So it'll be interesting to see how Sharp prices this for the developing markets. Whether this eventually makes it into the global marketplace remains to be seen, though the idea of an accompanying 26-inch solar panel to power a similar-sized TV kinda takes the shine out of this ray of sunshine.

Via New Launches

Filed under: Green Tech, Home AV
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