A tile or plate, includes: an upper plate (3) and a lower plate (4); wherein a plurality of heat conducting cavities (6) are uniformly provided between the upper plate (3) and the lower plate (4) via connecting ribs (5). A solar collection layer is provided on an upper surface of the tile or the plate. Two ends of the tile or the plate are connected with each of the plurality of the heat conducting cavities (6) via transverse connecting pipes (23, 37, 42). The transverse connecting pipes (23, 37, 42) of two neighboring tiles are connected by a ferrule (17) or a hose (36) to form an integrated circulation system. The tile or plate has a large day-lighting area and a high energy conversion rate.

The combination photovoltaic and thermal energy system includes a reverse flat plate solar collector (RFPC) mounted above a ground-based thermal energy storage reservoir and a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) panel mounted above the absorber plate of the RFPC. Heat exchanger pipes or conduits in the RFPC and the PV-T are connected so that the heat exchange fluid is preheated in the PV-T and then passes through the RFPC absorber plate, where it is heated to intermediate temperature ranges. The PV-T panel may be a monofacial PC-T panel, a bifacial PV-T panel, or a trifacial PV-T panel.

A device is provided which reduces the temperature of a solar PV panel. The device includes an enclosure comprising a heat sink attachable to a bottom side of the solar PV panel to provide an air channel, and a tornado tube. The tornado pipe may be oriented vertically to the plane of the earth, and may act as a solar chimney, instigating a flow of air to enter the enclosure through an air inlet. This air flow may be drawn across the heat sink and exit back to the atmosphere through the tornado tube.

The combination photovoltaic and thermal energy system includes a reverse flat plate solar collector (RFPC) mounted above a ground-based thermal energy storage reservoir and a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) panel mounted above the absorber plate of the RFPC. Heat exchanger pipes or conduits in the RFPC and the PV-T are connected so that the heat exchange fluid is preheated in the PV-T and then passes through the RFPC absorber plate, where it is heated to intermediate temperature ranges. The PV-T panel may be a monofacial PC-T panel, a bifacial PV-T panel, or a trifacial PV-T panel.

According to one embodiment, a cooling plate for a solar panel for cooling a solar panel comprises: a planar body positioned on the rear surface of a solar panel; and a fluid guide part comprising a plurality of flow paths for guiding a fluid for cooling the solar panel, between inlets formed on one side of the planar body and outlets formed on the other side of the planar body, wherein the surface of the planar body that comes into direct contact with a back sheet of the solar panel may be flat.

A multi-function solar panel, the panel being of the tilted tray type which is divided into three chambers, one chamber being used for electricity generation, and cooling of the PV panel and partial preheating of the feed water to a still, one for processing the feed water to produce potable water and the other for water storage and other ancillary devices used in the production process and PAYG functionality of the multi-function solar panel.

A modular, solar energy system comprising one or more modular solar panels. The solar panels include a pair of general planar, plates that are secured together to form a narrow channel therebetween for the circulation of a liquid. The solar panels have inlet and outlet fluid lines in fluid communication via manifolds with a cold fluid supply line and a warm fluid return line, respectively. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell matrix affixed thereto to face the sun. The plates have dividers or partitions that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

A system including a photovoltaic panel having a first heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the panel and/or from the environment by a heat exchanging fluid, connected to a heat pump. A second heat exchanger is provided for absorbing heat by the heat exchanging fluid and a control means for controlling a flow of the heat exchanging fluid through the first heat exchanger and/or the second heat exchanger. The heat pump is arranged to cool the heat exchanging fluid. The system has the following operating modes: a first mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the first heat exchanger; and a second mode in which cooled heat exchanging fluid is fed to the second heat exchanger and then fed to the first heat exchanger.

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

A hybrid supplemental solar energy collection and dissipation system with one or more heat pumps is featured. The system includes one or more commercially available photovoltaic panels configured to convert incident radiation to electricity. One or more supplemental solar energy collectors having a flow of fluid therein are selectively coupled to the one or more photovoltaic panels. The one or more supplemental solar energy collectors are configured to collect thermal energy from the one or more photovoltaic panels, radiate thermal energy to space, collect thermal energy from the environment and/or dissipate thermal energy to the environment to heat or cool one or more loads. One or more heat pumps are coupled to the one or more supplemental solar energy collectors and the one or more loads and are configured to amplify heating and/or cooling of the one or more loads.