Exemplary embodiments described herein may include lightweight, low stow volume solar concentrator.

A reflector is configured to reflect sunlight onto the double-sided power generation cell and mainly includes the reflector. The reflector is provided with a plurality of reflection regions. Each of the plurality of reflection regions is provided with a reflection protrusion having a different inclination angle. The double-sided power generation cell is obliquely disposed between two adjacent ones of the plurality of reflection regions. The reflection regions are capable of reflecting the sunlight onto a light-receiving side and a rear side of the double-sided power generation cell.

Prior art solar energy arrangements are typically structurally complex, have a limited concentration factor and temperature, and their dimensions are large. There is provided a solar energy arrangement and corresponding method for utilizing solar energy by directing sunrays or sunbeams with at least one solar concentrator towards at least one application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and a corresponding method, system and computer program product for implementing an arrangement for utilizing solar energy.

A solar concentrating system and installation has a plurality of solar collectors configured for receiving, reflecting, and concentrating radiation in a focal point. The solar concentrating system and installation increases the efficiency of current solar concentrating systems, such as those based on linear Fresnel collectors, by reducing focal distances and increasing the effective surface of the system.

A hybrid solar system including a hybrid solar collector using non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components and a heat transfer and storage system in thermal communication with the hybrid solar collector, the heat transfer and storage system using particle laden gas as thermal media to simultaneously generate and store electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat.

The present invention is a solar concentrator composed of a generally V-shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. The reflective Fresnel steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V-shaped trough and parallel to its central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration, a concentrating solar energy collector is created. Various configurations of solar energy receiving elements are used to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy that can be harvested by the collector.

An example light concentrator system for precision thermal processes includes a stabilizing base and a structure attached to the stabilizing base. The structure includes support arms. An azimuth control rotates the structure. A primary solar collector on the support arms is rotatable about two axes based on various positions of the sun throughout the day. Elevation actuators adjust an angle of the primary solar collector relative to position of the sun. Collector distancing actuators adjust distance of the primary solar collector toward and away from the sun. A variety of Thermal Processing Units (TPUs) are configured for a specific process or set of processes implementing concentrated solar energy from the primary solar collector at the receiver plane. Position of the spot can be moved on a fixed receiver plane through translation of the lens relative to the support arms or through rotation of a redirecting mirror.

The present invention is a solar concentrator composed of a generally V-shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. The Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V-shaped trough and parallel to its central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.

A method and apparatus for using a solar energy reflecting article, encompassing at least one ordered arrangement of reflector elements, each of which elements has a relatively flat, highly reflective face at an angle of primary reflection, with said article designed for a particular solar installation, such that when the article is appropriately placed between rows of bifacial solar photovoltaic modules or underneath the modules, solar energy that would otherwise strike the ground (or supporting surface, such as a rooftop) is instead, when said solar energy strikes the article from at least one angle within at least one defined range of angles relative to the solar reflecting article, reflected onto the side of at least one bifacial module that faces away from the sun. In this manner the article will increase the amount of electricity produced by at least one bifacial solar photovoltaic module.

A deformable mirror with variable curvature including: a plate having a reflective face and opposite hidden face and whose shape has a center (C) and radiuses (r), and at least one actuator intended to exert a force on the hidden face in order to deform the plate. The plate comprises a plurality of primary and secondary portions. The secondary portions being interposed between the primary portions, each of the primary portions extending locally substantially along and on either side of a respective radius (r) among said radiuses (r), and having a stiffness different from the adjacent secondary portions. The deformable mirror is intended to the introduction or the correction of an optical aberration in a light beam.