An Albuquerque-based company is trying to make it easier for more people to reap the benefits of solar energy with portable solar panels.

The technology behind solar panels is surprisingly basic, so you may be tempted to make your own from scratch. But should you?

Unlike a solar panel that you might place on your roof, which is set in a fixed, rigid frame and sealed under glass, a typical portable panel is usually encased in a protective sleeve made of mesh ...