# Refugee Smartphone Charging Huts The Project Elpis Solar Charging Station Provides Essential Power By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2016-06-19 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-charging References: [damngeeky](http://www.damngeeky.com/2016/06/18/43057/solar-powered-phone-charging-station-by-edinburgh-university-students.html) & [ed.ac.uk](http://www.ed.ac.uk/) Developed by students at [Edinburgh University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/edinburgh-gins-new-distillery), the Project Elpis solar charging station is intended to be utilized in camps where refugees and migrants have gathered. Created with help from Greece-based solar technology company Entec, the Project Elpis smartphone charging hubs are capable of providing 12 plugs with continuous charging. This allows 240 people per day to use the unit in order to power their smartphone and stay connected to family, friends and officials. The Project Elpis solar charging station is currently in use with two units operating with another three units set to be installed at random camps. As the [shift to solar energy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-solar-tracker) continues, we'll likely see more actions being taken to decentralize power corporations and provide everyone with sustainable energy. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 48% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Solar Charging Stations:** There is an opportunity for companies to develop solar charging stations that can provide essential power to refugees and migrants. - **Decentralized Power:** The increasing shift to solar energy presents an opportunity for disruption in the power industry by decentralizing power corporations. - **Technology for Social Good:** There is an opportunity for technology companies to integrate social initiatives into their offerings, such as developing charging solutions for refugees and migrants. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Renewable Energy:** Renewable energy companies can contribute to the social good by developing and implementing sustainable energy solutions for refugee communities. - **Telecommunications:** The telecommunications industry can provide mobile network services in refugee camps in order to enable communications and facilitate connections. - **Humanitarian Aid:** Humanitarian aid organizations can work with technology companies to develop and distribute solutions like the Project Elpis solar charging stations to provide essential aid to vulnerable populations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Homeless Support Backpacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-makeshift-traveler-backpack.md) - [Solar-Powered Charging Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-mars-bot.md) - [Ukrainian Electicity Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ukrainian-initiatives.md) - [Grid-Connected Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-electric-pavilion.md) - [Urban Solar Charging Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perovia.md) - [Compact Portable Power Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-power-station1.md) - [Device-Charging Sun Hats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecoflow-power-hat.md) - [Suitcase-Style Power Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/enginuity-portable-power-station.md) - [Autonomous Solar Energy Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pbx-200.md)