It is about time that somebody produced something that useful that is powered by the sun, especially as I always expected the 21st century to deliver us free power etc. Yet the solar cell industry has taken its time to develop the product necessary to deliver the goods, that being a viable use for solar power. We should be seeing more and more items powered by the sun.

The lighter by a company based in Portugal unlike other lighters is totally powered by the sun, the power is produced by a solar cell that has been paced on the side of the handle, however if you are thinking great, the device is a bit disappointing because it does not actually produce a flame of sorts, so if believe that you would be hard pressed to light a cigarette with it. The business end appears to only produce a series of sparks, which would light a well soaked barbeque and anything very dry like straw or dried out grass, but that would appear to be the limit.

Although the concept would appear to great at first, once again we are let down by the lack of power that we can get out of a solar cell.

This product can be a great back up, for lighting fires etc in an emergency situation, say like a power cut, but that would appear to be it, for now anyway.

Source  [Engadget]