World-first flexible solar awning hits Oz
Clever new tech turns the roll-out caravan awning into an off-grid RV power generating systemOn display at the ‘Off-Grid Campground’ section of the 2024 Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow was a smart new solar awning that could well prove a boon for anyone who likes taking their RV off the beaten track.
Described by its distributor, Australian RV Accessories Pty Ltd, as ‘the world’s first flexible solar awning’, this electric roll-in, roll-out awning essentially swaps traditional fabric for flexible solar panels, allowing RV owners to generate their own power anywhere they roll their awning out, in favourable sunny conditions.
The Melbourne Supershow marked the very first time the product had been shown in Australia to the public. It's also currently the only example of its type in the country, and is much larger when rolled out than the flexible solar blanket front window shade introduced by Queensland's Kedron Caravans a few years ago.
It's also a lighter alternative to the slide-out roof-mounted solar panels currently being offered on some upmarket Australian caravans.
The product of years of development and manufactured in China, the solar awning is said to have a longer lifespan than regular awning fabric and has been tested to withstand 10,000 cycles of being rolled out and rolled back in without an issue.
It comes backed by a three-year general warranty along with a 10-year warranty on its capacity for solar power generation, which relies on “next-generation flexible HBC [heterojunction back-contact] solar cell technology”.
Depending on the size of the awning, peak power generation can range from 850W to 1250W, and between 75 to 100A.
Available in 12, 14 and 16ft lengths, the 16ft unit on display, with electric operation, two remotes, and integrated LED lighting, is expected to be priced at around $6000, the distributor said. When the solar awning on display was fully extended in sunny conditions, it was generating around 800W of power.
Australian RV Accessories Pty Ltd is taking orders for the solar awning now, and said it expects to start supplying those orders from mid-2024. For more information head to the Luxury Awnings webpage.
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