A method for manufacturing a flexible photovoltaic panel to be fixed to a double curvature support surface is provided. The method includes generating a numerical model of a flat structure that is curved to conform to the double curvature support structure, identifying, in the flat structure, compression zones subject to formation of creases or lifting as a result of a curvature imposed by the double curvature support surface, determining a pattern of photovoltaic cells to be arranged on the flat structure, producing a flat photovoltaic panel on the basis of the pattern of photovoltaic cells, and forming cut-outs in the compression zones, the cut-outs being configured to close as a result of the curvature imposed by the double curvature support surface.

A portable solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generator module comprises a plurality of smart power slat (SPS) units, each SPS unit comprising a plurality of solar cells electrically connected together based on a specified cell interconnection design, and, N at least one power maximizing integrated circuit collecting electricity generated by the plurality of solar cells. The plurality of SPS units are mechanically connected such that the SPS units can be retracted for volume compaction of the module, and can be expanded for increasing PV electricity generation by the module. The module can be used as part of an electric power supply with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) power optimizer, storage battery and leads to connect to a load. The load can be AC or DC.

A solar battery unit (100) is provided that includes: a substrate (120); a solar battery (110) attached to a back face of the substrate (120); and a communications module (130) attached to the substrate (120). The communications module (130) includes an antenna (132) disposed so as not to overlap solar cells (115) in the solar battery (110) in a front view.

Described is a window (1) for civil and industrial buildings, comprising a load-bearing frame (2) for a pair of sheets (3, 4) made of optically transparent material: a first sheet (3) and a second sheet (4) which have a relative face facing, respectively, towards the outside and towards the inside of a building (9) on which the window (1) is mounted. There are also means (11, 12, 13) for converting the energy of incident sunlight into electricity, by means of the photovoltaic effect interposed between the above-mentioned sheets (3, 4).

Described is a window (1) for civil and industrial buildings, comprising a load-bearing frame (2) for a pair of sheets (3, 4) made of optically transparent material: a first sheet (3) and a second sheet (4) which have a relative face facing, respectively, towards the outside and towards the inside of a building (9) on which the window (1) is mounted. There are also means (11, 12, 13) for converting the energy of incident sunlight into electricity, by means of the photovoltaic effect interposed between the above-mentioned sheets (3, 4).

A semiconductor wafer is as wide as the industry standard width A (presently 156 mm+/−1 mm) and is longer than the industry standard A by at least 1 mm and as much as the standard equipment can reasonably accommodate, presently approximately 3-20 mm and potentially longer, thus, gaining significant additional surface area for sunlight absorption. Modules may be composed of a plurality of such larger wafers. Such wafers can be processed in conventional processing equipment that has a wafer retaining portion of industry standard size A and a configuration that also accommodates a wafer with a perpendicular second edge longer than A by at least 1 and typically 3-20 mm. Wet bench carriers and transport and inspection stations can be so used.

An apparatus includes a shelf having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge, a display screen, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuit and the display screen. The controller monitors the period of a waveform of a charging voltage of a storage capacitor of the solar cell circuit, displays an image on the display screen in response to a change in the waveform timing. A system includes a plurality of shelves each having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge of each of the plurality of shelves, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuits. The controller monitors the frequency at which a power transfer of each solar cell circuit occurs, and signals a device in response to a change in the frequency at which the power transfer occurs.

A photovoltaic cell array and a photovoltaic module are provided. The photovoltaic cell array includes multiple solar cells and a flexible metal conductive strip. Each solar cell includes an upper surface, upper segment electrodes, a lower surface, and lower segment electrodes. A first solar cell including a first overlap region is adjacent to a second solar cell including a second overlap region. The second overlap region, a third overlap region of the flexible metal conductive strip, and the first overlap region are sequentially stacked. The flexible metal conductive strip is welded to only one lower segment electrode and only one upper segment electrode. The lower segment electrodes of the first solar cell are outside the first overlap region, and the upper segment electrodes are outside the second overlap region.

Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.

Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.