A distributed power system wherein a plurality of power converters are connected in parallel and share the power conversion load according to a prescribed function, but each power converter autonomously determines its share of power conversion. Each power converter operates according to its own power conversion formula/function, such that overall the parallel-connected converters share the power conversion load in a predetermined manner.

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 system and method for array level terrain based backtracking includes a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with a rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, retrieve height information, execute a shadow model based on the retrieved height information and the position of the sun, determine a first angle for the tracker; collect an angle for each tracker in a plurality of trackers in an array; adjust the first angle based on executing the shadow model with the first angle and the plurality of angles associated with the plurality of trackers; transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the adjusted first angle.

Adjustable bearing supports for single-axis trackers supported by truss foundations. A two-piece assembly joins a pair of adjacent truss legs to form a rigid foundation while providing a movable support for a tracker bearing housing assembly or other structure. The movable support may slide in-plane, or alternatively, enable the bearing housing assembly to slide and rotate with respect to the truss cap structure joining the adjacent truss legs.

This inspection system for a concentrator photovoltaic apparatus includes: a module; a tracking mount configured to track the sun, the tracking mount having mounted thereto an array formed by assembling a plurality of the modules; an inverter apparatus to extract a direct-current power generated by the array, convert the direct-current power into an alternating-current power, and output the alternating-current power; and an imaging apparatus being positioned between the sun and the array tracking the sun, the imaging apparatus taking an image of the array from a direction orthogonal to a surface of the array. While the array is tracking the sun and is causing sunlight to be concentrated on the cell, the inverter apparatus produces a state where extraction of a power from the array is restricted, to cause the cell to spontaneously emit light, and the imaging apparatus takes an image of the emitted light of the cell.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

A system including a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with the rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to store a plurality of positional and solar tracking information, determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, calculate a first angle for the tracker based on the position of the sun, detect an amount of accumulation at the first specific point in time, determine a first maximum range of motion for the tracker based on the amount of accumulation, adjust the first angle for the tracker based on the first maximum range of motion for the tracker, and transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first adjusted angle.

A system including a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with the rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to store a plurality of positional and solar tracking information, determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, calculate a first angle for the tracker based on the position of the sun, detect an amount of accumulation at the first specific point in time, determine a first maximum range of motion for the tracker based on the amount of accumulation, adjust the first angle for the tracker based on the first maximum range of motion for the tracker, and transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first adjusted angle.

In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus configured with an off-set drive assembly. In an example, the apparatus has an inner race structure, which has a cylindrical region coupled to a main body region, the main body comprising an off-set open region. The cylindrical region is an annular sleeve structure coupled to the main body region, which occupies the spatial region within the cylindrical region. In an example, the apparatus has an outer race structure coupled to enclose the inner race structure, configured to couple the inner race structure to allow the inner race structure to move in a rotational manner about a spatial arc region; and configured to allow the inner race structure to pivot about a region normal to a direction of the spatial arc region. In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly that is configured to pivot a torque tube.

A solar tracking system (200) comprises multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) are orientatable to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system (SPCi) configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules (SPMi).