A photovoltaic module includes an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing.

A solar panel assembly has a frame, a solar panel attached to the frame, the solar panel having a front side to collect solar energy and a back side opposite the front side, a first non-reflective honeycomb adjacent the front side and attached to the frame, the honeycomb arranged to break up light otherwise reflected from the solar panel, and a second honeycomb adjacent the back side and attached to the frame, the honeycomb arranged to dissipate heat from the solar panel.

A solar panel assembly has a frame, a solar panel attached to the frame, the solar panel having a front side to collect solar energy and a back side opposite the front side, a first non-reflective honeycomb adjacent the front side and attached to the frame, the honeycomb arranged to break up light otherwise reflected from the solar panel, and a second honeycomb adjacent the back side and attached to the frame, the honeycomb arranged to dissipate heat from the solar panel.

A method is provided for using asymmetrically focused photovoltaic conversion in a hybrid parabolic trough solar power system. Light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes are concentrated towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus, while R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is asymmetrically focused along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary linear focus is concentrated into a plurality of receiving areas and translated into electrical energy. Asymmetrical optical elements are used having an optical input interfaces elongated along rotatable axes, orthogonal to the axial plane.

A method is provided for using asymmetrically focused photovoltaic conversion in a hybrid parabolic trough solar power system. Light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes are concentrated towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus, while R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is asymmetrically focused along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary linear focus is concentrated into a plurality of receiving areas and translated into electrical energy. Asymmetrical optical elements are used having an optical input interfaces elongated along rotatable axes, orthogonal to the axial plane.

In the soil cultivation system equipped with a solar panel, the space between ridges of a plurality of frame units supporting the solar panels is coupled with a roof member, furthermore, the perimeter surface thereof is integrally covered with a cover unit. In this way, a cultivation house in which the frame units are used as support columns is established. Then, in the solar panels, light transmitting regions are provided, a transmissive member is used as the roof member and thus agricultural plants are cultivated by light passing through the light transmitting regions and the roof member. Furthermore, the cultivation of the agricultural plants is performed in cultivation tanks in which a soil is put, and an appropriate cultivation nutrient solution is supplied through a supply means. In this way, the cultivation environment of the agricultural plants is managed, and thus the agricultural plants can be efficiently cultivated while the burden of an operator is reduced.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising the steps of: placing a mixture solution comprising a polysiloxane and a curing agent in a humidified condition and sealing same; forming a polysiloxane film by curing the mixture solution; and manufacturing a porous polysiloxane film by evaporating water drops formed on the surface of the polysiloxane film. By applying the porous polysiloxane film manufactured by the present invention to a solar cell module, weight reduction and efficiency improvement effects of the solar cell module can be obtained.

A solar panel that attains very low cost/Watt objectives is achieved by applying an optical concentrator with planar symmetry in combination with a simple 1-axis tracking system. The concentrator uses a Cassegrain optical system to provide moderate concentration factors that can be adjusted by varying the ratio of the focal lengths of the concave and convex reflecting surfaces. Concentrator dimensions can be scaled to any convenient size. They can be arrayed in parallel to form a solar panel that has the same form factor as a 1-sun solar panel. One-axis tracking is achieved by simply rotating the collector elements in synchronism so the sun is maintained in the plane of symmetry for each of the collector elements that comprise the panel.

A solar panel that attains very low cost/Watt objectives is achieved by applying an optical concentrator with planar symmetry in combination with a simple 1-axis tracking system. The concentrator uses a Cassegrain optical system to provide moderate concentration factors that can be adjusted by varying the ratio of the focal lengths of the concave and convex reflecting surfaces. Concentrator dimensions can be scaled to any convenient size. They can be arrayed in parallel to form a solar panel that has the same form factor as a 1-sun solar panel. One-axis tracking is achieved by simply rotating the collector elements in synchronism so the sun is maintained in the plane of symmetry for each of the collector elements that comprise the panel.

A flexible solar array for extraterrestrial deployment and a method of manufacturing such a flexible solar array are disclosed. A power generating layer, a durable layer, and an ultraviolet radiation blocking layer are disposed such that durable layer is between the power generating layer and the ultraviolet radiation blocking layer.