While we're on the topic of renewable energy in remote locations, Lockheed Martin's Savi Technology unit is getting into the act with solar-powered RFID readers and hardware. That's an attractive proposition for military and commercial users that operate in places where reliable sources of electricity are rare or simply nonexistent.

The latest example is a U.S. Army supply facility in Kuwait, where Savi's engineers set up solar-powered RFID signposts. The signposts activate RFID tags that are attached to vehicles and equipment, and the tags then transmit the assets' locations to nearby RFID readers. The Kuwait facility reportedly is using the system to read more than 25,000 tags daily.

The high-tech company operates a similar installation in Colombia for Emprevi Ltda., a business that provides logistics and security services for importers and exporters. In that application, Savi installed solar-powered panels at strategic checkpoints, including factories and port facilities, to monitor the status and security of containerized cargo shipments.