Systems and methods are provided for protecting solar panels from damage due to overheating. A system comprises a solar panel and a control system. The solar panel comprises a plurality of solar cells, and a plurality of thermochromic temperature sensors thermally coupled to different areas of the solar panel. The thermochromic temperature sensors are configured to change color in response to heat generated by the solar cells in the different areas of the solar panel. The control system is configured to detect colors of the thermochromic temperature sensors, determine a temperature of each area of the solar panel based on the detected colors of the thermochromic temperature sensors, and cause the solar panel to shut down in response to determining that the temperature of at least one area of the solar panel exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

In one embodiment, a proximity camera system is disclosed. The proximity camera system may include a proximity camera having a lens and a housing, fascia, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the proximity camera and the fascia. The proximity camera system may additionally include a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon, the logic, when executed by the one or more processors, being configured to perform operations including: (i) receiving an image captured by the proximity camera, (ii) performing object recognition techniques on the image, (iii) determining whether an object was detected within a first predetermined proximity region, and (iv) transmitting one or more instructions configured to cause a graphical display to be displayed by the fascia. In some embodiments, the proximity camera and the fascia may be coupled to a shelving unit.

A transparent film has an adhesive backing adapted to emanate heat through heating elements incorporated throughout the film. The film is applied to a front surface of a solar panel array to provide the heat necessary to melt snow and ice. The device is provided with temperature sensors, inverters, and a battery to enable the device to self-activate and to accumulate and store electric power. When the accumulated snow and ice have been melted, the device de-activates and the transparent nature permits sunlight to enter and charge the solar cells.

Method and apparatus for annealing micro-scale or macro solar cells that can contain lithium. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with a laser or other light source to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. While a small amount of energy is used for heating up the small thermal mass of the micro-cells and macro cells to the desired annealing temperature, much larger amounts of additional energy is harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Maintaining a desired temperature for operation of cells takes very little energy owing to the small thermal mass of the cells and controlled thermal conduction of the materials in contact with the cells.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.

A subsurface energy storage system includes roadway housings arranged to define a surface to carry vehicles. Each roadway housing has an energy storage assembly having a housing defining cavities, and energy storage units respectively carried within the cavities and being electrically coupled together. Each roadway housing also includes a layer adjacent to the energy storage assembly and to provide the surface to carry vehicles. The subsurface energy storage system also includes an energy storage management controller coupled to the energy storage units in the roadway housings.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be on-roof systems, elevated from the surface of a roof, being flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, inverted seams can couple photovoltaic-supporting pans and non-photovoltaic structures, forming a substantively planar surface. In some configurations, the appearance of BIPV systems can be particularly aesthetically pleasing and generally seamless to an observer.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be on-roof systems, elevated from the surface of a roof, being flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, inverted seams can couple photovoltaic-supporting pans and non-photovoltaic structures, forming a substantively planar surface. In some configurations, the appearance of BIPV systems can be particularly aesthetically pleasing and generally seamless to an observer.

A solar collection system is mounted inside a containment vessel. The upper portion of the containment vessel is optically transparent and includes one or more lens elements to help direct light to an upward facing solar panel. The lower portion of the containment vessel comprises a mirrored surface to help reflect light upward to a downward facing solar panel. The shape of the upper and lower portions of the containment vessel may be altered based on the selected implementation. A variety of lens configurations may also be used.