Kettle Chips Tests Renewable Energy in Salem

       Kettle Brand currently has enough solar panels on the roof of its Salem plant to make 250,000 bags of Kettle Chips, even though this is applicable when the sun is available. A new smart-grid project is being launched today, whereas they persevere in testing the renewable energy stored in a room full of lithium-ion batteries to help aid the solar power plant in Salem. These batteries to be used are stored in a newly established facility, known as Salem Smart Power Center, which can store up to 5 megawatts (in other words, has the capacity to power 3,500 homes).
      "This is the first of its kind in the nation and in the industry," said Kevin Whitener, smart-grid project manager for Portland General Electric. "We're used to calling upon energy sources when we need them, but sun and wind aren't great for that. With this project, we can take that sun and wind energy and store it so it can be available when our customers want to use it."

Kettle Foods potato chip factory in Salem has 616 solar panels on its roof, but the amount of power they produce fluctuates with the availability of the sun 

Volta Racer -- World's First Solar-Powered Car (for Kids!)

       ToyLabs Inc. (Silicon Valley start-up) has unveiled its latest production as well as being the world's first solar-powered toy called Volta Racer. This toy has the components of a flexible polycrystalline silicon solar panel that helps capture sunlight to power up the toy. As produced initially to have children learn the advantages of green power and harnessing the sun's energy to power up future gadgets, ToyLabs has made the solar-powered toy from eco-friendly recyclable damage resistant materials cut at roundish angles so that it doesn't cause any damage to the kids. 

       Interestingly, the device can be assembled in a matter of 15 minutes, giving more insight on how kids can learn the basic concepts of solar electricity and mechanical engineering. Volta Racer can also traverse easily upon any terrain and only moves in either a straight line or roundish path depending on the setting of axle by the user.

The Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Panel

      Not being able to be remote-controlled may be the only downside to this remarkable yet educational toy for your kids but one is able to purchase the Volta Racer for only $25, which also gives you a variety of five color options to choose from. Even though it may not be remote-controlled, I'm sure it'll still bring enjoyment to kids as well as making them realize the importance of harnessing natural sources of energy in the not-so-distant future.