I’m ignorant about this stuff, but if the panel is rolled up, what good is it? How about when the sun isn’t shining? The panel will fit in backpack so hands are free?
Did she think this through or am I off base here?
Weight. Much easier to get a 3-5 pound solar panel into a remote area than 20 pounds of batteries. Especially if you’re talking about carrying the items in on your back, but also payload if you’re dropping equipment in by parachute. Once you’re at location, take the panel out, unroll it, hook it up and you have power.
Solar panels generally still make some power on overcast days-maybe not enough to charge things up, but enough to operate what you’re using. There’s even generators that run on solar power (I’ve thought of getting one).
Since they’re now cheap enough and light enough, the portable solar panels are becoming more common for RV use. There’s some solar panels that you can use just for charging your phone.
Are they the answer to all situations? No. But nothing is.