Apple is rumored to be considering powering the iPod using solar energy.

Website MacRumors has revealed a recent patent application. It claims that the company is planning to use solar power cells in its handheld devices.

The solar panels are believed to be placed behind the LCD screen of the iPod, which would "absorb ambient light that passes through the screen of the device".

An entire iPod will be hard to power completely by solar energy due to the "wasting" of space and "limited area" that is available for the panels.

The design would allow the iPod to be charged using the solar panels which are included into the device, without needing an external source or attachment to power it.

Apple has recently launched a new fifth-generation iPod which is a substitute for the iPod video. The new 80GB or 160GB devices have an altered design with a new user interface, reports PCMag.com.