A solar panel apparatus having an upper frame and a lower frame, the upper and lower frames being pivotally connected to one another via a hinge. The upper frame contains a solar panel, and the lower frame contains a plurality of louvres. The plurality of louvres is configured to rotate as the angle of the upper frame is adjusted relative to the sun. Dividing walls inside each of the upper and lower frames are configured to allow warm air to flow from behind the louvres, which are black on their front faces to absorb solar rays, upward to behind the solar panel, thereby warming the solar panel and melting any snow or ice from the front surface of the solar panel. Air vents in both the upper and lower frames prevent the apparatus from overheating.

An accessory for a solar panel assembly includes a bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction and including a slot, a connector coupled to the bracket and configured to engage at least one panel frame of the solar panel assembly, and a fence member including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket portion, and the second portion includes a projection that removably engages the slot.

An accessory for a solar panel assembly includes a bracket defining an elongated portion extending in a first direction and including a slot, a connector coupled to the bracket and configured to engage at least one panel frame of the solar panel assembly, and a fence member including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion including a planar surface oriented at an angle relative to the bracket portion, and the second portion includes a projection that removably engages the slot.

A method for cleaning solar panels when snow, ice, or dust accumulates on the solar panels to reduce or eliminate the electrical power output from the solar panels. The method of cleaning includes selecting specific cleaning locations, on the array of solar panels, based primarily upon obstruction location and obstruction size differences. The method of cleaning also includes the incremental and sequential selection of the cleaning locations, and the incremental and sequential activation of cleaning devices within the selected cleaning locations. Additional groups of incrementally and sequentially activated cleaning devices may be powered, in whole or in part, by the prior solar panels that have been cleaned.

A method for cleaning solar panels when snow, ice, or dust accumulates on the solar panels to reduce or eliminate the electrical power output from the solar panels. The method of cleaning includes selecting specific cleaning locations, on the array of solar panels, based primarily upon obstruction location and obstruction size differences. The method of cleaning also includes the incremental and sequential selection of the cleaning locations, and the incremental and sequential activation of cleaning devices within the selected cleaning locations. Additional groups of incrementally and sequentially activated cleaning devices may be powered, in whole or in part, by the prior solar panels that have been cleaned.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of power sources, one or more processors embedded with the plurality of power sources, and memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to modify duty cycles of the power sources, and to modify timing for each phase of a multiphase cycle. In some cases, the apparatus: transfers, for each phase of the multiphase cycle, power from a different power source of a plurality of power sources to a load; determines, for each phase of the multiphase cycle, an input voltage associated with the transferred power, an output voltage associated with the transferred power, and current from the power source associated with the transferred power; determines a duty cycle associated with the power source; modifies duty cycles of the power sources; and modifies timing for each phase of the multiphase cycle.

A Fresnel condenser device and a condenser-type solar energy system are provided, wherein the condenser device comprises first and second Fresnel lens layers, each lens layer comprising at least one condenser-type Fresnel lens; and a straight box-shaped light guiding layer, the first and second Fresnel lens layers being disposed respectively on two ends thereof, and the straight box-shaped light guiding layer is configured to direct a light from the first Fresnel lens layer down to the second Fresnel lens layer. By utilizing two Fresnel lens layers to respectively perform light convergence and using the straight box-shaped light guiding layer therebetween to help direct the light from an upper layer to a lower layer, the condenser device can not only adapt to a wide range of incident angles, but also obtain a large light convergence ratio at a low height.

A Fresnel condenser device and a condenser-type solar energy system are provided, wherein the condenser device comprises first and second Fresnel lens layers, each lens layer comprising at least one condenser-type Fresnel lens; and a straight box-shaped light guiding layer, the first and second Fresnel lens layers being disposed respectively on two ends thereof, and the straight box-shaped light guiding layer is configured to direct a light from the first Fresnel lens layer down to the second Fresnel lens layer. By utilizing two Fresnel lens layers to respectively perform light convergence and using the straight box-shaped light guiding layer therebetween to help direct the light from an upper layer to a lower layer, the condenser device can not only adapt to a wide range of incident angles, but also obtain a large light convergence ratio at a low height.

The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.

The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.