There is a dynamically adjustable photovoltaic (PV) system for transforming solar energy into electrical energy. The dynamically adjustable PV system includes a first PV fold including a first set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a first laminating film that encapsulates the first set of PV cells; a second PV fold including a second set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a second laminating film that encapsulates the second set of PV cells; and a connecting mechanism that connects the first laminating film to the second laminating film. The connecting mechanism includes a chamber.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for mitigating the effects of shading in photovoltaic cells using flow batteries are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes connecting at least one fuel stack to one or more photovoltaic cells, wherein each fuel stack comprises (i) one or more ports and (ii) one or more electrochemical cells; determining that one or more portions of the one or more photovoltaic cells are impacted by a shading effect; converting chemical energy stored in an electrolytic solution to electrical energy, by interacting the electrolytic solution with the electrochemical cells of each fuel stack connected to the portions of the impacted photovoltaic cells; automatically opening the ports of each fuel stack connected to the one or more portions of the impacted photovoltaic cells; and supplying the electrical energy to the portions of the impacted photovoltaic cells.

A mounting assembly may include an arced connecting member that includes a first drive chain along a bottom surface of the arced connecting member, a second drive chain positioned adjacent to the first drive chain, and a third drive chain in a gap between the first and the second drive chains. The mounting assembly may include an intermittent-motion drive system that has a drive wheel with a nub extending from a lateral surface of the drive wheel, the nub being shaped to interface with notches included along the third drive chain. The intermittent-motion drive system may include a first and a second protrusion shaped to interface with surfaces of the first and second drive chains, respectively. Rotation of a drive axle extending through the drive wheel may affect rotation of the drive wheel, rotational movement of the nub extending from the drive wheel, and movement of the arced connecting member.

A panel connected body includes a plurality of flat panels arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, where m≥3 and n≥3; and a plurality of row-direction connection portions and column-direction connection portions which connect together panels that are adjacent in a row direction and column direction, respectively. A first type row satisfying relationships D.sub.1≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y−1−2L and a second type row satisfying relationships D.sub.n≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y+1+2L are alternately included, where D.sub.y is a length along the column direction of the column-direction connection portions in a y-th column, and L is a thickness of the panels. The relationship E≤W.sub.C−L is satisfied, where W.sub.C is a length along the column direction of the panels and E is a length along the column direction of the row-direction connection portions.

A back contact solar cell assembly and methods for its manufacture and assembly onto a panel for use in space vehicles are described. The solar cell assembly includes a compound semiconductor multijunction solar cell having a contact at the top surface of the solar cell, a conductive semiconductor element extending from the contact on the top surface to the back surface of the assembly where it forms a first back contact of a first polarity type, and a second back contact of a second polarity at the back surface of the assembly electrically coupled to the back surface of the solar cell.

A photovoltaic element including at least one photovoltaic cell at least partially segmented and having a base electrode, a top electrode, and a layer system comprising at least one photoactive layer, wherein the layer system is arranged between the base electrode and the top electrode, the segments are configured such that at least the top electrode and the layer system of one of the segments are separated from the top electrode and the layer system of another segment by at least one cavity to prevent contact between one another, the at least one cavity is formed substantially vertically relative to the layer system of the at least one photovoltaic cell, and the segments are electrically conductively connected in parallel with one another such that a flow of electric current through the at least one photovoltaic cell is distributed over each of the segments.

A photovoltaic device comprising: a substrate; a photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed on the substrate; a top electrode and a bottom electrode incorporated into the photovoltaic module, wherein the top electrode and the bottom electrode are at least partially exposed; and a protective encapsulation covering at least an active area of the photovoltaic module, wherein the protective encapsulation comprises a) at least one vacuum-processed material having an evaporation temperature less than or equal to 1200° C. or b) at least one solution-processed metal oxide chosen from molybdenum oxide, tungsten trioxide, vanadium pentoxide, zinc oxide, nickel oxides, and titanium dioxide.

A solar module having at least two substring groups, each including an upper substring having solar cells connected in series and arranged in a matrix having two adjacent columns and a plurality of rows, and a lower substring having solar cells connected in series and arranged in a matrix having two adjacent columns and a plurality of rows. The lower and upper substrings include the same number of solar cells. A cross-connector interconnects the lower and upper substrings electrically in parallel forming the substring group. A bypass diode is arranged electrically in the cross-connector, and cross-connectors of each substring group are interconnected electrically in series. Two columns of the lower substring include a different number of solar cells and two columns of the upper substring include a different number of solar cells, such that the number of solar cells of the upper substring and of the lower substring is odd.

A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) device includes: a rigid PV segment, having one or more PV cells that convert light to electricity, wherein the rigid PV segment is non-foldable and non-bendable; a co-located flexible PV segment, wherein the flexible PV segment is foldable or bendable without being damaged; electric connectors, that connect between (i) electric current or voltage generated by the rigid PV segment, and (ii) electric current or voltage generated by the flexible PV segment; a unified encapsulation layer, encapsulating together both the rigid PV segment and the co-located flexible PV segment. The rigid PV segment, the co-located flexible PV segment, the electric connectors, and the unified encapsulation layer, form together the hybrid PV device as a single stand-alone PV device that converts light to electricity, and has at least one rigid region corresponding to the rigid PV segment and at least one flexible region corresponding to the co-located flexible PV segment.

Provided is a photovoltaic module, including a first intermediate busbar having a first lead-out terminal provided at an end thereof; a second intermediate busbar having a second lead-out terminal provided at an end thereof; and a first jumper wire arranged on a first isolation bar; the first lead-out terminal and the second lead-out terminal are located on two opposite sides of the first jumper wire, and the first lead-out terminal and the second lead-out terminal abut against two opposite side surfaces of the first isolation bar or overlap a top surface of the first isolation bar. Compared with the related art, the first isolation bar where the first jumper wire is located is clamped or pressed by the first lead-out terminal and the second lead-out terminal, to prevent short circuit or shielding of the cell caused by free movement of the first jumper wire, the first and second intermediate busbars.