A photovoltaic solar panel array support structure that has a negligible footprint and that may be adjustably sized in the future to accommodate an increase or decrease of the number of solar panel arrays. It is installed at a substantial elevation above ground level so as to allow unhampered, ongoing farming activities in the area directly below the solar panel array, including the use of large mechanized farm equipment. The photovoltaic solar panel array support structure utilizes a series of vertical pilings that support a pre-fabricated unitary segment platform upon which a solar panel system may be mounted and then lifted atop of the pilings as a single assembly. It is intended for erection and operation in locations where large-scale ground mounted solar panel arrays are not feasible.

A system for use on a surface to collect solar energy from the sun has a stand, a module, and solar collector(s). The stand supportable on the surface has rotational points rotatably supporting the module so it can rotate about a first axis of rotation. A first drive disposed on the stand is operable to provide first rotation, and a cable connected between a hoop pulley of the module and the first drive on the stand can rotate the module about the first axis to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun. The solar collector(s) disposed on the module can be photovoltaic cells for collecting solar energy. A second drive on the module can rotate an adjacent solar collectors on the module using pulleys and cable. Reflectors on the collectors can focus the sun rays to photovoltaic cells. The second drive can rotate the collectors about a second axis, carried by the first axis, to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun.

A system for use on a surface to collect solar energy from the sun has a stand, a module, and solar collector(s). The stand supportable on the surface has rotational points rotatably supporting the module so it can rotate about a first axis of rotation. A first drive disposed on the stand is operable to provide first rotation, and a cable connected between a hoop pulley of the module and the first drive on the stand can rotate the module about the first axis to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun. The solar collector(s) disposed on the module can be photovoltaic cells for collecting solar energy. A second drive on the module can rotate an adjacent solar collectors on the module using pulleys and cable. Reflectors on the collectors can focus the sun rays to photovoltaic cells. The second drive can rotate the collectors about a second axis, carried by the first axis, to direct the solar collector(s) toward the sun.

Separable bearings for suspended solar enhanced oil recovery concentrators and receivers, and associated systems and methods. A representative bearing includes a receiver attachment member having a first bushing portion and a second bushing portion removably coupled to the first bushing portion, the first bushing portion having an outwardly-facing bearing surface, the receiver attachment member further including a plurality of engagement surfaces positioned to contact an outer surface of a receiver conduit. The bearing can further include a concentrator attachment member having a first element and a second element removably coupled to the first element, the first and second elements each having an inwardly-facing bearing surface positioned to rotatably engage with the outwardly-facing bearing surface of the first bushing portion, the concentrator attachment member further having first and second attachment elements positioned to couple to a solar concentrator.

Drive mechanisms for solar concentrators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative solar energy collection system includes an at least partially transparent enclosure, a receiver positioned in the enclosure to receive solar radiation passing into the enclosure, a concentrator positioned within the enclosure to focus incoming solar radiation on the receiver, and a drive system operatively coupled to the concentrator to rotate the concentrator relative to the receiver. The drive system can include a drive chain operatively coupled to the concentrator, a drive gear engaged with the drive chain, and a drive motor coupled to the drive gear to rotate the drive gear and rotate the concentrator relative to the receiver.

The invention relates to enclosed solar parabolic trough reflector systems for thermal heat generation that can ultimately be used in various applications. The system includes a modular dual arch building design with a transparent building envelope and a reflector assembly connected within the building through a bearing assembly. The system is particularly suited for solar heat collection in harsh environment.

A photovoltaic panel includes: a plurality of power generation portions each having a light receiving surface, each power generation portion including a plurality of power generating elements each configured to generate power in accordance with an amount of received light; and a coupling portion configured to couple each power generation portion, wherein each power generation portion is coupled so as to be rotatable about the coupling portion used as a rotation axis, and the power generation portions are capable of, by being rotated, taking a light receiving position at which the power generation portions are located such that the light receiving surfaces of the power generation portions are oriented to an identical direction, and a fold position at which the power generation portions are located such that a set of the light receiving surfaces of the power generation portions face each other.

A photovoltaic solar panel array support structure that has a negligible footprint and that may be adjustably sized in the future to accommodate an increase or decrease of the number of solar panel arrays. It is installed at a substantial elevation above ground level so as to allow unhampered, ongoing farming activities in the area directly below the solar panel array, including the use of large mechanized farm equipment. The photovoltaic solar panel array support structure utilizes a series of vertical pilings that support a pre-fabricated unitary segment platform upon which a solar panel system may be mounted and then lifted atop of the pilings as a single assembly. It is intended for erection and operation in locations where large-scale ground mounted solar panel arrays are not feasible.

Tensioned sheet-metal based solar panels and structures for supporting the same are disclosed. The sheet metal based solar panels can include a flexible photovoltaic solar module laminated onto a thin, flexible metal sheet. Such solar panels can be mounted on and tensioned within a support frame that is twisted out of plane with respect to a reference planar datum surface. The resulting surface can be a hyperbolic paraboloid, which can be aesthetically pleasing while improving structural stability and maximizing angular exposure to the sun.

A thermophotovoltaic panel, including a first surface for receiving solar radiation, photovoltaic cells connected to said first receiving surface, a heat exchanger connected to said photovoltaic cells, and a second surface, opposite to the first, for supporting the panel, said heat exchanger being positioned between said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein said photovoltaic cells and said exchanger are embedded in at least one resin, preferably cold-polymerised epoxy resin, to constitute a body including said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein at least one layer of resin at said first receiving surface is constituted of substantially transparent resin.