At Samlex America, we believe in the power of innovation and education to transform lives. That’s why we’re proud to support Ivy Academy’s Solar Backpack Project—an inspiring initiative that brings together sustainability, humanitarian aid, and experiential learning. With our reliable, high-quality power inverters integrated into these life-changing backpacks, we’re honored to play a role in delivering portable energy solutions to communities in need across the globe.
The Challenge: Power and Communication in Crisis
In times of crisis, access to reliable power can mean the difference between safety and uncertainty. The Next Generation Sustainable Living (NGSL) Solar Backpack Project was created by students at Ivy Academy Chattanooga to address this urgent need, starting with a mission to help students and teachers in Ukraine.
With much of Ukraine’s infrastructure destroyed or damaged, parents were afraid to send their children to school. Communication was nearly impossible, as cell phones—the only lifeline between students and their families—could not stay charged. When students took shelter in bomb shelters, their parents had no way of knowing if they were safe. Ivy Academy’s NGSL students designed a solar-powered backpack to charge cell phones, laptops, and power ventilation fans while in bomb shelters, ensuring that students and teachers could stay connected and safe in the most difficult conditions.
The Solution: Student Innovation Meets Real-World Needs
To meet the urgent need for off-grid electricity in crisis zones, Ivy Academy students engineered a lightweight, portable system that can be carried in a backpack.
The goal: to harness the sun’s energy and convert it into reliable power for communication, education, and survival.
How does the Solar Backpack work?
Each solar backpack integrates four core components to provide reliable off-grid electricity: a foldable solar panel, charge controller, lithium battery, and power inverter.
The solar panel captures energy from sunlight and converts it into direct current (DC) electricity. That energy flows into a charge controller, which regulates the voltage and current to safely charge the lithium battery without overcharging or damaging the cells. Once the battery stores that energy, it’s ready to power devices.
To make the stored energy usable for everyday electronics, the system relies on a power inverter—like the compact, durable SAM-450-12 and SAM-450-12E (230V) from Samlex America. These modified sine wave inverters convert the DC power from the battery into alternating current (AC) power, allowing the user to plug in via USB or 12V outlet to power their phones, laptops, fans, and essential electronics.
Together in the backpack, these components transform sunlight into dependable, portable energy that brings power, and peace of mind, to anyone without access to the grid.
Watch a demonstration of the NGSL Solar Backpack Project.
The Results: A Global Impact
The NGSL Solar Backpack Project has since grown into a powerful humanitarian tool with far-reaching impact. In Ukraine, it’s now being used for career and technical education (CTE) training, teaching students the fundamentals of solar energy, electrical systems, and battery storage. In the U.S., the backpacks are being distributed in storm-hit regions like North Carolina and East Tennessee, where they provide emergency power during natural disasters. And in Africa, the backpacks are now supporting medical teams from Doctors Without Borders, helping power essential medical equipment in remote villages without access to electricity.
This ambitious project is entirely student-driven—from design to deployment. Ivy Academy’s NGSL students have not only gained national recognition as Power Your Future Challenge winners, but they’ve also proven that with the right tools and support, young people can lead real-world change.
Power of collaboration between industry and educational institutions
Samlex America’s support, along with key partnerships from WattCycle Batteries, Harbor Freight Tools, and the Chattanooga Engineers Society, has been critical in bringing the students’ vision to life. These industry leaders have contributed battery systems, educational tools, and mentorship to ensure that the Solar Backpack Project isn’t just an idea—it’s a viable, working solution to some of the world’s most urgent problems.
As highlighted in the news segment below, the NGSL Solar Backpack Project exemplifies the best of what STEM education can be—applied, impactful, and deeply human.
From their home state of Tennessee, to Ukraine and Africa, Ivy Academy students are doing more than imagining a better future—they’re building it. One solar backpack at a time.
Video credit: Local 3 News
Photo credit: Ivy Academy Chatanooga
