Treatments are provided to strengthen adhesion of an optical filter layer in a photovoltaic (PV) module to an encapsulant layer, or generally, between inorganic materials and organic polymers. The embodiments disclosed herein can provide five or more times the adhesive forces of untreated encapsulant-filter interfaces. As a result, the system can enhance long-term reliability of PV modules by reducing interface surface charges and dangling bonds and reducing gaps and cracks, thereby preventing moisture, impurities, and particles from entering the interface. The treated optical filter layer can result in a surface modification. In some embodiments, treating the optical filter layer includes applying a chemical treatment such as an acid or alkaline wash, and/or ultrasonic cleaning.

A solar powered smart window includes a light diffuser configured to convert an incident direct solar radiation to a diffusive light toward interior direction, a light diffuser positioner, a driving mechanism, a solar panel, and a control unit. The control unit moved the light diffuser from a predetermined opened position to a closed position and to hold the light diffuser at the closed position with latch mechanism, when the output power of the solar panel exceeds a threshold for over a duration time. The controller releases the latch mechanism and to cause the light diffuser to return to the predetermined opened position when the output power lowers below threshold for over the duration time. A method includes storing a predetermined condition, monitoring the output power, comparing the output power with the predetermined conditions, making decision whether a positional transition is necessary, and causing the transitional transition or maintaining current position.

A free-space optical power beaming device may be configured to receive a light beam from an external source. The device may include a plurality of photovoltaic elements configured to convert light to electrical energy; a plurality of electrical charge storage elements, and a light reflector element configured to reflect a light beam toward one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic elements. Each electrical charge storage element may be coupled with at least of one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements and configured to store electrical energy output from the at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements. In some aspects a set of the plurality of photovoltaic elements may be configured in a tilted manner. In other aspects the light reflector element may be steerable to reflect a light beam toward one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic elements to provide a desired time-averaged light intensity distribution.

A connecting member set includes a first connecting member connected to one of a pair of solar cells, and a second connecting member connected to the other solar cell. The first connecting member and the second connecting member have a first planar portion and a second planar portion, respectively. The first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other and electrically connected with each other. The first planar portion has at least one of a cut-out portion or an opening through which the second planar portion is exposed toward the first planar portion when the first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other.

A connecting member set includes a first connecting member connected to one of a pair of solar cells, and a second connecting member connected to the other solar cell. The first connecting member and the second connecting member have a first planar portion and a second planar portion, respectively. The first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other and electrically connected with each other. The first planar portion has at least one of a cut-out portion or an opening through which the second planar portion is exposed toward the first planar portion when the first planar portion and the second planar portion are layered on each other.

A solar energy utilization window includes two plate members, and a first prism, and an energy collection portion, in which the energy collection portion is installed with a predetermined gap interposed between the energy collection portion and a second side of a first prism, and in a triangular prism, a refractive index and each internal angle of the triangle are set so that there are three types of optical paths of sunlight that has passed through an outer glass and entered into a first prism from the first side.

A thermal emitter including a substrate and a grating arranged atop the substrate, the grating includes a plurality of equidistant structures having a cross-section with a trapezoid shape. Material of the substrate and the grating converts incoming heat into radiation.

A thermal emitter including a substrate and a grating arranged atop the substrate, the grating includes a plurality of equidistant structures having a cross-section with a trapezoid shape. Material of the substrate and the grating converts incoming heat into radiation.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c).

The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c).

The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.