Solar thermal units and methods of operating solar thermal units for the conversion of solar insolation to thermal energy are provided. In some examples, solar thermal units have an inlet, and a split flow of heat absorbing fluid to either side of the solar thermal unit, along a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Optionally, one or more photovoltaic panels can be provided as part of the solar thermal unit, which may convert solar insolation to electric power that may be used by a system connected to the solar thermal unit.

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 header assemblies affixed to opposite edges thereof and which control the entry of liquid into the channel and the exit therefrom. The inlet header assembly has a plurality of nozzles that are adjustable in size to control flow therethrough while the outlet header assembly has elongated nozzles to receive flow or liquid from the channel. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell affixed thereto to face the sun and the other plate has a plurality of indentations that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

A hybrid photovoltaic and radiant heating and cooling device is provided, wherein the device comprises a photovoltaic panel; a radiant heating and cooling panel; a first heat-exchanging pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the photovoltaic panel; a second heat-exchanging pipe in direct contact with a back surface of the radiant heating and cooling panel; and a thermal storage tank fluidly connecting the first and the second heat-exchanging pipes, wherein the tank is arranged between the first and second heat-exchanging pipes.

Embodiments herein provide for a Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) solution that can further lower the cost of CPV systems and enable a lower cost of electricity (LCOE). In one embodiment, a system includes a cylindrical reflective trough concentrator. The system also includes a photovoltaic receiver panel, with a receiver panel located on a swing arm having an axis of rotation at a center of the cylindrical reflective trough concentrator, wherein the swing arm is operable to move the photovoltaic receiver panel to track sunlight reflected from the cylindrical reflective trough concentrator as sun traverses the sky.

A complex energy generation device using sunlight and solar heat includes: a heat storage tube having, at a first side portion thereof, an inlet portion into which heat medium oil flows, and having, at a second side portion thereof, an outlet portion from which the heat medium oil is discharged, the heat storage tube having a slit at a lower surface thereof along a longitudinal direction thereof; a solar panel having a plurality of solar cells on a front surface thereof; and a heat radiation panel having an upper portion inserted into the heat storage tube through the slit of the heat storage tube while sealing the slit, and a lower portion laminated on a rear surface of the solar panel.

An ambient heat collection panel (2) comprising an outer surface (4), an inner surface (6) opposite the outer surface (4), substantially parallel internal ducts (12,14) between the outer and inner surfaces and for defining flow and return paths for a heat transfer fluid and a photo-voltaic module (18) attached to the outer surface (4).

A method for operating a hybrid collector solar system includes a heat transfer agent, which is present in a buffer accumulator, that passes via a pump into a thermal solar collector of the hybrid collector in order to heat the heat transfer agent. The pump is connected into a feed line that connects the buffer accumulator to the thermal solar collector. The hybrid collector solar system is partially filled with the heat transfer agent so that part of the hybrid collector solar system is not filled and so that the heat transfer agent is moved back and forth between the thermal solar collector and the buffer accumulator via the feed line depending on its temperature, thereby realizing an oscillating method of operation.

A method for cleaning a solar power system includes operating a solar power system that comprises a plurality of solar power cells mounted on a spherical frame; rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a volume of a hemispherical reservoir that is mounted to the spherical frame; rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a solar cell cleaning solution fluid enclosed within the volume of the hemispherical reservoir defined between an interior surface of the reservoir and the spherical frame; and removing, with the solar cell cleaning solution, a plurality of particulates attached to the plurality of solar power cells.

A modular solar-energy and rainwater collection apparatus (10) comprising: a collector mount (12) adapted both for securement to a building and to an angularly-adjustable support (110); a plurality of rainwater collectors (14) supportable by the collector mount (12), each rainwater collector (14) having a base (18), and at least one solar-cell retainer (20), for securing at least one solar cell (22) relative to the base (18) of at least one said rainwater collector (14); and connection means (16), for rigidly interconnecting a plurality of like rainwater collectors (14) so that the bases (18) are in abutted liquid communication with each other thus forming a modular rainwater collection area (36).

A flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module and a production process thereof are disclosed. The flat-plate water-heating photovoltaic/thermal module includes a frame. The lower surface of the frame is provided with a heat preservation back plate. The upper surface of the frame is sequentially laminated with a glass cover plate, a first photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a photovoltaic cell slice, a second photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive, a transparent back plate, a third photovoltaic cell laminating adhesive and a heat absorbing component from top to bottom. A heat preservation cavity is formed between the heat preservation back plate and the heat absorption part.