An assembly includes first and second sections and a subtractive hinge coupling the first and second sections. The subtractive hinges forms at least one aperture. A method for forming a flexible photovoltaic assembly includes the following steps: (1) disposing a plurality of photovoltaic devices on a flexible backing material, such that the plurality of photovoltaic devices are divided between at least first and second sections, and (2) forming at least one aperture in the flexible backing material between the first and second sections.

A thermoplastic acrylic resin composition is provided in which translucency properties are suitable for use as a top-sheet member of a photovoltaic cell, warping caused by temperature change is suppressed, and its weathering resistance is excellent; 0.1 to 50 parts by mass of a glass is contained in 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic acrylic resin; an absolute value of a difference in refractive indices of the thermoplastic acrylic resin and the glass is 0.08 or lower; an average particle size of the glass is 100 to 2,000 μm; a softening temperature of the thermoplastic resin is 80° C. or higher; and the aspect ratio of the glass is 15 or greater. Also, a molded article which is obtained by molding the thermoplastic acrylic resin composition and has a YI value of 20 or lower after weathering-resistance testing. Further, a top-sheet member of a photovoltaic cell is made of the molded article.

Disclosed are a precursor for preparing a light absorption layer of a solar cell including (a) an aggregate-phase composite including a first phase including a copper (Cu)-tin (Sn) bimetallic metal and a second phase including zinc (Zn)-containing chalcogenide, or including the first phase including a copper (Cu)-tin (Sn) bimetallic metal, the second phase including zinc (Zn)-containing chalcogenide and a third phase including copper (Cu)-containing chalcogenide; or (b) core-shell structured nanoparticles including a core including copper (Cu)-tin (Sn) bimetallic metal nanoparticles and a shell including zinc (Zn)-containing chalcogenide, or the zinc (Zn)-containing chalcogenide and copper (Cu)-containing chalcogenide; or (c) a mixture thereof, and a method of preparing the same.

Systems and methods for the desalination of water are disclosed. A system includes a concentrated solar power (CSP) system, the CSP system operable to concentrate solar energy to increase temperature and pressure of a heat transfer fluid and operable to produce steam utilizing heat from the heat transfer fluid; a photovoltaic (PV) system, the PV system operable to collect solar energy to produce electricity; a desalination system in fluid communication with the CSP system and in electrical communication with the PV system, the desalination system operable to produce desalinated water from a salt water source utilizing the steam from the CSP system and electricity from the PV system; and a pump station in fluid communication with the CSP system and the desalination system, and in electrical communication with the PV system, the pump station operable to transmit the desalinated water to consumers for use.

A method (200) for fabricating patterns on the surface of a layer of a device (100), the method comprising: providing at least one layer (130, 230); adding at least one alkali metal (235); controlling the temperature (2300) of the at least one layer, thereby forming a plurality of self-assembled, regularly spaced, parallel lines of alkali compound embossings (1300, 1305) at the surface of the layer. The method further comprises forming cavities (236, 1300) by dissolving the alkali compound embossings. The method (200) is advantageous for nanopatterning of devices (100) without using templates and for the production of high efficiency optoelectronic thin-film devices (100).

Systems and methods for controlling a solar panel or solar panel array to power one or more appliances are disclosed. The systems include at least a solar panel or solar panel array, an appliance or electrical load, and a power controller connected between the solar panel or solar panel array and the electrical load. The controller performs a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm on the solar panel or array. The controller also takes into account contextual information, including location and time information, and allows the battery to be discharged beyond a defined threshold only if the contextual information indicates that sufficient solar power will be available to recharge it.

A solar cell is discussed. The solar cell includes a substrate of a first conductive type, an emitter region of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type that is positioned on the substrate, a first field region of the first conductive type that is positioned on the substrate to be separated from the emitter region, a first electrode electrically connected to the emitter region, a second electrode electrically connected to the first field region, and an insulating region positioned on at least one of the emitter region and the first field region.

A method of manufacturing a thin-film solar cell includes forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a first petition groove for dividing the first electrode; forming a semiconductor layer on the first electrode and in the first partition groove; forming a second partition groove for dividing the semiconductor layer; forming a second electrode on the semiconductor layer and in the second partition groove; and forming a third partition groove for dividing the second electrode and the semiconductor layer. At least one of the steps of forming the first partition groove, the second partition groove, and the third partition groove includes forming an opening in a partition groove forming layer to expose a lower layer surface below the partition groove forming layer, bringing a needle into contact with the lower layer surface, and forming the partition groove by moving the needle in a predetermined direction.

A method of manufacturing a thin-film solar cell includes forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a first petition groove for dividing the first electrode; forming a semiconductor layer on the first electrode and in the first partition groove; forming a second partition groove for dividing the semiconductor layer; forming a second electrode on the semiconductor layer and in the second partition groove; and forming a third partition groove for dividing the second electrode and the semiconductor layer. At least one of the steps of forming the first partition groove, the second partition groove, and the third partition groove includes forming an opening in a partition groove forming layer to expose a lower layer surface below the partition groove forming layer, bringing a needle into contact with the lower layer surface, and forming the partition groove by moving the needle in a predetermined direction.

The present invention describes an apparatus for a first laser scribing (P1) on the front electrode of a thin film solar cell panel and a similar apparatus for subsequent laser scribing (P2,P3) on the semiconductor layer and semiconductor layer/rear electrode. Before starting scribing process (P1), the left hand edge or reference line on the left hand edge on a workpiece is aligned substantively parallel to the linear drive before translating the workpiece on the apparatus. Similarly, the first and second scribed lines (Lp1,Lp2) formed during the P1 and P2 processes are separately aligned parallel to the linear drive before starting the relevant process (P2,P3). Alternatively, parallelism of the workpiece is carried out for each batch of the workpiece. In both apparatuses, the laser sources are mounted on independently motorised axes.