The present invention provides a solar cell module installation structure and a house that can reduce manufacturing cost and have good workability as compared with the related art.

A support member includes a rail part that extends substantially in a vertical direction and is longer than a length of the solar cell module. The solar cell module includes: a solar cell panel; and a frame member. The solar cell panel includes: a main body panel; a terminal box provided on a back surface of the main body panel; and a wiring part extending from the terminal box. The frame member includes: a holding recess; and a mounting part. The holding recess sandwiches a part of the main body panel and is in contact with a light receiving surface and the back surface of the main body panel. The mounting part is provided on a back surface of the main body panel and is attached to the rail part of the support member. The mounting part has a penetration part that passes through from an inside to an outside with reference to the terminal box when the light receiving surface is viewed from front. The wiring part passes through the penetration part.

The present invention provides a solar cell module installation structure and a house that can reduce manufacturing cost and have good workability as compared with the related art.

A support member includes a rail part that extends substantially in a vertical direction and is longer than a length of the solar cell module. The solar cell module includes: a solar cell panel; and a frame member. The solar cell panel includes: a main body panel; a terminal box provided on a back surface of the main body panel; and a wiring part extending from the terminal box. The frame member includes: a holding recess; and a mounting part. The holding recess sandwiches a part of the main body panel and is in contact with a light receiving surface and the back surface of the main body panel. The mounting part is provided on a back surface of the main body panel and is attached to the rail part of the support member. The mounting part has a penetration part that passes through from an inside to an outside with reference to the terminal box when the light receiving surface is viewed from front. The wiring part passes through the penetration part.

A floating platform for solar panels is provided. The floating platform may include a plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates may have a ballast chamber filled with a ballast material. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a float chamber disposed over the ballast chamber. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a channel passing through the ballast chamber and the float chamber. The channel may further have one or more openings to pass water into the ballast chamber and an opening to pass air from the channel. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a locking member. Each of the plurality of plates may further have one or more connection sections for placing one or more strap assemblies. The strap assemblies may be provided for disposing one or more solar panels on the plurality of plates.

An Optimally-Placed Wall-Mounted Solar Device is a photovoltaic canopy system comprised of a metal framework that would be attached to the exterior walls of a building and used to support a plurality of accurately-emplaced photovoltaic panels, to optimize the collection of solar energy “at all times of the day and all seasons of the year”. On a yearly basis, the sun visibly charts its path on buildings in 40° NL. Winter and summer solstice day arcs plus peak hours of optimum solar energy (i.e., the boundaries of the imaginary quadrilateral ancient astronomers called SOLAR WINDOW) form an arched configuration for emplacement of the PV panels. Furthermore, PV panels hosting the sun disc could: (i) Convert the Sun’s electromagnetic radiation into a usable continuous voltage (DC); (ii) Turn sun discs into modern versions of pinhole cameras; and (iii) Help document orbital and rotational changes in the Earth’s angle from within the planet, independent of sensors onboard satellites.

An Optimally-Placed Wall-Mounted Solar Device is a photovoltaic canopy system comprised of a metal framework that would be attached to the exterior walls of a building and used to support a plurality of accurately-emplaced photovoltaic panels, to optimize the collection of solar energy “at all times of the day and all seasons of the year”. On a yearly basis, the sun visibly charts its path on buildings in 40° NL. Winter and summer solstice day arcs plus peak hours of optimum solar energy (i.e., the boundaries of the imaginary quadrilateral ancient astronomers called SOLAR WINDOW) form an arched configuration for emplacement of the PV panels. Furthermore, PV panels hosting the sun disc could: (i) Convert the Sun’s electromagnetic radiation into a usable continuous voltage (DC); (ii) Turn sun discs into modern versions of pinhole cameras; and (iii) Help document orbital and rotational changes in the Earth’s angle from within the planet, independent of sensors onboard satellites.

A solar energy collection system for converting solar energy to electricity that includes solar arrays mounted on a frame. Each array is set on a tracker head that is supported on a pedestal; each pedestal mounts onto a beam. Elevators pivot the arrays, where each elevator is made up of a shaft with a threaded end coupled to a drive nut. An upper end of each drive nut gimbal mounts to a portion of the tracker head; rotating a lower end of each shaft raises or lowers the drive nut, thereby pivoting each array. The vertical shafts are ganged together and driven by a single motor. Further included with each pedestal are azimuth orientation shafts that also mount to each tracker head. Rotating each orientation shaft adjusts an azimuth of an associated array. The orientation shafts are ganged together and are rotated by a single motor.

A solar energy collection system for converting solar energy to electricity that includes solar arrays mounted on a frame. Each array is set on a tracker head that is supported on a pedestal; each pedestal mounts onto a beam. Elevators pivot the arrays, where each elevator is made up of a shaft with a threaded end coupled to a drive nut. An upper end of each drive nut gimbal mounts to a portion of the tracker head; rotating a lower end of each shaft raises or lowers the drive nut, thereby pivoting each array. The vertical shafts are ganged together and driven by a single motor. Further included with each pedestal are azimuth orientation shafts that also mount to each tracker head. Rotating each orientation shaft adjusts an azimuth of an associated array. The orientation shafts are ganged together and are rotated by a single motor.

The present disclosure provides a window unit for a building or structure. The window unit is arranged for generating electricity and comprises a panel having an area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light and having a light receiving surface for receiving light from a light incident direction. The window unit further comprises at least one series of solar cells, each solar cell being a bifacial solar cell and having opposite first and second surfaces each having an area in which light can be absorbed to generate electricity, the solar cells being positioned such that in use the first surfaces are oriented to receive light from the light incident direction and the second surfaces receive light from an opposite direction.

The present disclosure provides a window unit for a building or structure. The window unit is arranged for generating electricity and comprises a panel having an area that is transparent for at least a portion of visible light and having a light receiving surface for receiving light from a light incident direction. The window unit further comprises at least one series of solar cells, each solar cell being a bifacial solar cell and having opposite first and second surfaces each having an area in which light can be absorbed to generate electricity, the solar cells being positioned such that in use the first surfaces are oriented to receive light from the light incident direction and the second surfaces receive light from an opposite direction.

A device for utilizing a surface, such as the surface of a floor, outside wall or roof, for a variable function, including a first functional element with an active surface area the size of at least a part of the surface, at least one second functional element with an active surface area the size of at least a part of the surface, and a rotatable carrier for varying, on at least a part of the surface, the functional element with which the surface is utilized. A method for utilizing a surface for a variable function is also shown.