In one embodiment, a solar tile includes a hollow body including a first half and a second half, the first half including a dark-colored side that is adapted to absorb solar energy and the second half including a light-colored side that is adapted to reflect solar energy, the first and second halves defining an open interior space through which heat exchange fluid can pass, and a central tube that enables the heat exchange fluid to enter or exit the interior space of the body, wherein the central tube also forms a central axis about which the tile can be rotated.

A solar power plant for generating steam is comprised of a spherical shell, the interior of which is sealed from the outside atmosphere and which is mounted adjacent the top of a vertical tower. A plurality of heliostats surrounds the tower and the direct sunrays onto the sphere for heating the same sphere. A spray nozzle within the sphere directs water supplied to it from an external source onto the interior surface of the sphere to create steam. The steam is withdrawn and directed to a turbine or the like for generating electricity. A motor rotates the sphere about its vertical axis thereby regularly exposing a different portion of the sphere to the heliostats to prevent the sphere from melting.

A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.

A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.

Floating islands are provided which have a permeable and buoyant matrix base with a top surface and pores therein and one or more solar panels. The solar panels are fixedly mounted to the matrix such that they are located at or above a waterline of the floating island. A heat sink is attached to at least one of the solar panels. The heat sink is configured to transfer heat from the solar panels to water disposed within the pores of the matrix base such that the solar panels are cooled and the water in the matrix base is warmed. Floating islands may also have a rotation system configured to rotate the matrix base such that the solar panels are facing the sun. The rotation system includes a pivot post, a cable windlass, a first cable coupled to the cable windlass, and a second cable coupled to the cable windlass.

An A-Frame solar panel array system is configured to produce a high amount of electrical power for a given amount of ground space with a plurality of solar panels on both a forward beam and a plurality of solar panels on a trailing beam in an elevated position above the ground. This elevated positioning enables more solar panels to be configured over a given amount of ground area. The solar panels are spaced along the trailing and forward beams with a vertical offset between the trailing and forward beams to enable sunlight to pass therethrough to enable exposure to sunlight, through the forward beam array of solar panels onto the trailing beam array of solar panels. A solar panel actuator is configured to rotate the solar panels for increasing solar panel exposure throughout the year. The solar panels may only be configured to rotate trailing/forward.

The present invention relates to a rotating solar concentrating device wherein reflective sheets hung in a catenary trough shape capable of solar concentration may be protectively furled and balanced and rotated about a vertical axis. The reflective sheets may be furled to protect them from damage from wind, rain, and dust. In some embodiments, rotating parts of the device may be hung from supports above. In some embodiments, a furling mechanism may initiate protective furling in response to damaging environmental factors. Some embodiments may concentrate light on a photovoltaic cell wherein the photovoltaic cell is cooled by immersion in a heat pipe. In some embodiments, reflective surfaces may be supported by cables that are tensioned by a hanging, rotating ballast. In some embodiments, the device may be employed in a ganged array. In some embodiments, the invention may harvest wind energy as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT).

A solar power plant includes a solar tracker supporting solar modules with the solar tracker supported on a first end by a first pier and on a second end by a second pier. A drive device is coupled to the solar tracker and configured to rotate the solar tracker about an axis. An energy storage unit is supported by the solar tracker between the first pier and the second pier with the energy storage unit configured to power the drive device. The solar tracker also includes a controller in communication with a memory with the memory storing instructions thereon that when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: receive forecast data for the solar power plant; determine, based on the forecast data, a diffuse angle adjustment; and output a signal to the drive device to rotate the solar tracker to a desired angle based on the diffuse angle adjustment.

A solar power plant includes a solar tracker supporting solar modules with the solar tracker supported on a first end by a first pier and on a second end by a second pier. A drive device is coupled to the solar tracker and configured to rotate the solar tracker about an axis. An energy storage unit is supported by the solar tracker between the first pier and the second pier with the energy storage unit configured to power the drive device. The solar tracker also includes a controller in communication with a memory with the memory storing instructions thereon that when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: receive forecast data for the solar power plant; determine, based on the forecast data, a diffuse angle adjustment; and output a signal to the drive device to rotate the solar tracker to a desired angle based on the diffuse angle adjustment.

Disclosed is a rotation apparatus of a pole system for photovoltaic power generation, the rotation apparatus comprising: a first tubular body connected to a solar panel array; a second tubular body coupled to a lower portion of the first tubular body and fixed on the upper end of a pole; a gear unit for transferring rotating force to the first tubular body; a driving motor for providing the gear unit with the rotating force; and a contact part of at least 3-points of contact, which is installed on coupling portions of the first tubular body and the second tubular body and maintains a contact state during the relative rotation of the first and second tubular bodies to transfer the power or a signal.