Solar-charged Panasonic batteries to power eclipse live-stream from Mt Fuji
Company says it will use only green energy to power the broadcast next month
By Jay Alabaster | Published: 16:15, 19 April 2012
Panasonic will broadcast live the May 21 solar eclipse over Japan from the top of Mount Fuji, using batteries that are charged at the base using solar power and then carried up to the peak.
The company said that all video cameras, PCs, and other equipment used for the broadcast will be powered by solar energy. The team will consist of mountain guides and engineers, as well as some participants chosen from the general public.
A rare solar eclipse, in which the moon passes between the earth and the sun, is scheduled to take place over Japan on the morning of Monday, May 21. The event will be visible from a large area of the country, including Tokyo, and later from parts of the US, including California, Nevada and Arizona.
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Panasonic has created a website to promote the project, as well as a YouTube video.
The company is one of the world's largest makers of rechargeable batteries, including the batteries widely used in laptops and portable electronics. It also owns advanced solar panel technology, much of which it acquired when it bought Sanyo Electric and made it into a subsidiary in 2010.
Mount Fuji, which is about 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) high, is Japan's highest peak as well as a cultural icon. It is still typically covered in snow and ice in May, although it is a popular climb for tourists during the summer months.
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