Nokia may be best known for its phones but it’s also getting a well-deserved reputation for backing some of the most innovative ‘Green issues’ around. The latest comes in the form of the ‘The SolarCycle Diaries’ – a gruelling around-the-world bicycle expedition that aims to highlight the potential of solar power in the fight against climate change Join us after the solar-powered jump for the full facts…

Nokia is the sponsor being a new campaign to highlight the effectiveness of solar power. Three cyclists, Susie Wheeldon, Jamie Vining and Iain Henderson have been equipped with a set of custom built thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the panniers of their bikes

Nokia has also supplied the latest in navigation, communication and sports technology to give the three travellers everything they need to carry out their mammoth bike ride. To do this, each has been issued with the Nokia N79 Active, which comes with a heart rate monitor and pre-loaded Nokia Sports Tracker. This application will enable them to measure their distance, speed and pace when cycling, as well as upload their location using GPS to the The SolarCycle Diaries website.

Together with the campaign ‘We Support Solar’ they are calling for the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference to recognise solar photovoltaics ability to address the credit, energy and climate crunch with a ‘global feed-in tariff’; see its potential to help ease poverty and create 6.3 million jobs by 2030.  They are also asking the UN to consider the potential for condensing solar power (CSP) stations to harness the suns rays, as promoted by the Desertec Foundation.

The team set off from London’s City Hall on Friday 15th May, which was also known as European Solar Day. They’ll be taking part in a 12,000 miles journey that will take nine months and 15 countries to complete – all in the name of the SolarAid charity.

You can offer support for the campaign and the riders at TheSolarWinds