Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

A solar generator includes a base, a turntable provided to the base, a solar array disposed atop the turntable and a cover or dome that is disposed atop the base to define an enclosure surrounding the solar array and turntable. The solar array can include separate solar cell segments arranged side-by-side in a row. Multiple rows can be provided. The rows are spaced-apart such that each row can be oriented towards the sun with less potential for shading the other solar panel arrays in adjacent rows. A motor control unit operates motors to adjust the azimuth and elevation angle of the solar elements in the array so that the sun's position in the sky can be tracked.

A solar panel awning device may include a solar panel having first and second opposing ends, first and second opposing sides extending between the first and second opposing ends, and first and second opposing major surfaces. The first major opposing surface defines a photovoltaic surface. The solar panel awning device may include first and second arms respectively coupled to the first and second opposing ends of the solar panel, and an actuator coupled to one of the first and second arms and configured to switch the solar panel between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the solar panel is flat against a side of a building; in the extended position, the first opposing side is proximal to the side of the building and spaced apart from the side of the building; and the second opposing side is distal to the side of the building.

A sun tracking plant growing system includes a body having a first face, a second face opposed to the first face and a peripheral connecting edge which is relatively small, as compared to the size of the first face and the second face. A mounting enables the body to pivot about a pivot axis. Plant supports, which receive plants, are supported by the body. A sun tracking mechanism is provided which senses or calculates the position of the sun and adjusts the orientation of the body about the pivot axis to maintain a selected portion of the peripheral connecting edge of the body facing the sun so as to provide desirable and naturally attenuated sunlight exposure according to plants' needs on both faces throughout a day. This system allows that multiple rows or single row of the plural bodies are arrayed closely together without creating shadows to each other.

The present invention concerns a solar tracker (1000) comprising at least: A drive module (1100) comprising at least one mobile device comprising at least: At least one additional module (1200) configured to be driven by the drive module (1100), each additional module (1200) comprising at least one additional mobile device comprising at least:
characterized in that: Said solar tracker (1000) comprises at least one kinematic device (1300) for coupling said drive module (1100) and said additional module (1200); Said kinematic coupling device (1300) comprising at least one first part (1330) and at least one second part (1340), said first part (1330) being entirely supported by the mobile device of the drive module (1100) and said second part (1340) being entirely supported by the additional mobile device of the additional module (1200).

The present invention concerns a solar tracker (1000) comprising at least: a mobile device (1100) comprising at least: a table (1110) comprising at least one solar energy collector device (1112); a support structure (1120); first support arch (1130) and a second support arch (1150) configured to support the support structure (1120); a first ground support (1140) and a second ground support (1160) configured to support the first support arch (1130) and the second support arch (1150), respectively; a kinematic drive device (1141);
the solar tracker (1000) being characterized in that: the support structure (1120) is a beam formed of a lattice structure comprising: at least one first, one second and one third longitudinal members; a plurality of crossmembers; a plurality of tie rods (1225).

Disclosed embodiments provide apparatuses and techniques for use and construction of a two-axis solar tracking device that closely approximates the efficiency of Vertical Biaxial Trackers but with simplified construction, and thus are cost competitive with uniaxial horizontal tracking systems. The flexible mounting system can accommodate both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. Disclosed embodiments provide a solar panel stand that provides biaxial tracking for solar energy generation efficiency, with reduced cost and complexity, enabling more off-grid and micro-grid energy generation capabilities.

The present invention relates to a tracking photovoltaic solar system comprising at least a tracker unit maintaining an array of photovoltaic modules (101) aligned to the sun during the course of the day. The tracker unit includes: a support structure (100), said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated elements (105) supporting said array of photovoltaic modules and a torque tube (104) for rigidly supporting said plurality of elongated elements and arranged to rotate along a first rotational axis (106), a pole structure (200) operably connected to said support structure, having an upper part rotationally fixed along said first rotational axis (106) on said support structure, and a lower part rotationally connected along a second rotational axis (204) orthogonal to the first rotational axis on foundations (500), and a steering mechanism (300) mechanically coupling together said first and said second rotational axis for rotating said support structure and said operably connected pole structure around said first and second rotational axis in the same movement.

A system is described for tracking light energy, or solar energy, on at least one axis. The system may include a single PV module or a system or plurality of PV modules. The system may include a bearing system that may allow for single axis rotation of the PV while providing greater ease of rotation as well as greater reliability in the bearing system. The system may function with a single PV module, single motor and actuator. The system may also function with multiple rows of PV modules and provide for a greater number of PV modules with a single motor, single actuator and multiple torque tubes with multiple bearing systems.

A dual axis solar tracker is provided. The dual axis solar tracker includes a moving platform, a fixed platform, a serial chain, a parallel chain and a driving device. The moving platform is supported by the serial chain and driven by the parallel chain, forming a parallel tracking mechanism. The driving device is configured to drive the parallel chain to motion so as to drive the moving platform to rotate around vertical and horizontal axes. The dual axis solar tracker of the present disclosure has a larger workspace, a better tracking performance and advantages of high rigidity, low energy consumption, small driving torque and low inertia, etc.