Almost all energy on Earth comes from the Sun. It radiates power to Earth using electromagnetic (EM) waves. However, only a small fraction of the radiation was captured in the forms of photovoltaic, solar heat, hydropower, fossil fuel, and wind. The consumption of the energy comes with serious environmental penalties such as global warming and environmental damages. A system and methods are disclosed to allow capturing, storage, conversion and release of electromagnetic waves and their energy.

An arrangement of photovoltaic panels is configured for installation in a greenhouse having support beams. The arrangement includes frames. Each frame includes at least one photovoltaic panel mounted on a rod. At least one motor is mechanically connected to rotate one or more rods, for bringing each photovoltaic panel to different fixed angular positions. Fittings are arranged at a perimeter of the arrangement. Each fitting is sized and shaped to attach to at least one of the support beams, such that the arrangement is supportable exclusively by the support beams. A system includes at least one such arrangement, a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller is programmed to select an optimal fixed angular position for each photovoltaic panel for promoting plant growth, based on environmental and plant conditions and the sensor outputs, and to instruct each motor to rotate each rod to the selected angular position.

A device includes a support structure having a plurality of concentric cuts through the support structure that define a set of structure sections. The device also includes an insert assembly supported by the support structure at an inner structure section of the set of structure sections. The inner structure section is configured to tilt the insert assembly at a tilt angle in accordance with a displacement of a first outer structure section of the set of structure sections.

A device includes a support structure having a plurality of concentric cuts through the support structure that define a set of structure sections. The device also includes an insert assembly supported by the support structure at an inner structure section of the set of structure sections. The inner structure section is configured to tilt the insert assembly at a tilt angle in accordance with a displacement of a first outer structure section of the set of structure sections.

An assembly including: a central enclosure including: an inner wall that is water-resistant and non-corrosive, an outer wall that is transparent, the inner and outer walls hermetically sealed together to form a watertight compartment defined between the inner and outer walls, an inlet port located on a lower portion of the central enclosure, an outlet port located on an upper portion of the central enclosure, and a solar collector member disposed inside the watertight compartment, the member being disposed between the inner and outer walls; an external glass pane spaced apart from the outer wall and defining an external insulation layer of gas between the external glass pane and the outer wall; and an internal partition spaced apart from the inner wall and defining an internal insulation layer of gas between the internal partition and the inner wall.

An assembly including: a central enclosure including: an inner wall that is water-resistant and non-corrosive, an outer wall that is transparent, the inner and outer walls hermetically sealed together to form a watertight compartment defined between the inner and outer walls, an inlet port located on a lower portion of the central enclosure, an outlet port located on an upper portion of the central enclosure, and a solar collector member disposed inside the watertight compartment, the member being disposed between the inner and outer walls; an external glass pane spaced apart from the outer wall and defining an external insulation layer of gas between the external glass pane and the outer wall; and an internal partition spaced apart from the inner wall and defining an internal insulation layer of gas between the internal partition and the inner wall.

A system of blinds comprising louvers that are inclined in such a way as to maximize the direct solar illumination received during the winter months and to minimize same during the summer months is described. The inclinations are determined according to the terrestrial latitude of the building supporting these blinds, and the orientation of the surface of the building that is to be protected. The longitudinal slope of the louvers is determined such that the longitudinal direction of the louvers is substantially parallel to the straight line of intersection of the plane of the surface and the equatorial plane seen from the building. The transverse tilt of the louvers is determined such that these louvers face in a direction comprised between 12° and 24° below the direction of the equatorial plane.

A system of blinds comprising louvers that are inclined in such a way as to maximize the direct solar illumination received during the winter months and to minimize same during the summer months is described. The inclinations are determined according to the terrestrial latitude of the building supporting these blinds, and the orientation of the surface of the building that is to be protected. The longitudinal slope of the louvers is determined such that the longitudinal direction of the louvers is substantially parallel to the straight line of intersection of the plane of the surface and the equatorial plane seen from the building. The transverse tilt of the louvers is determined such that these louvers face in a direction comprised between 12° and 24° below the direction of the equatorial plane.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.