A roofing, cladding or siding product which is light weight, easy to install, durable, and resistant to environmental wear includes a module that can be used to form a weatherproof covering over top of a building surface. The module can also form a weatherproof covering, and be used as part of a thermal energy recovery or removal system. The module can also form part of a thermal energy recovery system that includes an array of solar cells to generate electrical energy.

A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

An apparatus, method and system for cleaning a solar panel includes a solar panel, one or more fluid reservoirs, a fluid dispenser at a first side of a solar panel, a mechanism for providing pressurized fluid to the fluid dispenser from the fluid reservoir(s), and a mechanism for dispensing the fluid from the dispenser. The solar panel is periodically cleaned and the motivation for cleaning may be a detected output condition of the panel, a detected weather condition, an expired time condition, detected precipitant accumulation, a manual command, or the like. The fluid(s) may include a gas and/or one or more liquids. A heater may be provided to heat the fluid(s).

An apparatus, method and system for cleaning a solar panel includes a solar panel, one or more fluid reservoirs, a fluid dispenser at a first side of a solar panel, a mechanism for providing pressurized fluid to the fluid dispenser from the fluid reservoir(s), and a mechanism for dispensing the fluid from the dispenser. The solar panel is periodically cleaned and the motivation for cleaning may be a detected output condition of the panel, a detected weather condition, an expired time condition, detected precipitant accumulation, a manual command, or the like. The fluid(s) may include a gas and/or one or more liquids. A heater may be provided to heat the fluid(s).

Disclosed are a de-icing device for a solar panel and a method of operating the same. The de-icing device for the solar panel and the method of operating the same include a sensor unit, a power supply unit, a switching unit, and a control unit, so that it is possible to provide a high-efficiency de-icing device for the solar panel in which snow deposited on the solar penal may be dissolved by applying a reverse current to the solar panel. In addition, it is possible to provide a high-efficiency and high-precision de-icing device for the solar panel in which solar power generation and de-icing may be simultaneously performed and the amount of the reverse current may be controlled.

Disclosed are a de-icing device for a solar panel and a method of operating the same. The de-icing device for the solar panel and the method of operating the same include a sensor unit, a power supply unit, a switching unit, and a control unit, so that it is possible to provide a high-efficiency de-icing device for the solar panel in which snow deposited on the solar penal may be dissolved by applying a reverse current to the solar panel. In addition, it is possible to provide a high-efficiency and high-precision de-icing device for the solar panel in which solar power generation and de-icing may be simultaneously performed and the amount of the reverse current may be controlled.

Methods for cleaning solar panels when snow, ice, or dust accumulation on the solar panels reduces or eliminates the electrical power output from the solar panels. The methods of cleaning include the incremental and sequential selection of cleaning areas having obstructed solar panels, and the incremental and sequential activation of cleaning devices for the selected solar panels. The cleaning devices for the sequentially selected and obstructed solar panels may be powered by the prior solar panels that have been cleaned.

Methods for cleaning solar panels when snow, ice, or dust accumulation on the solar panels reduces or eliminates the electrical power output from the solar panels. The methods of cleaning include the incremental and sequential selection of cleaning areas having obstructed solar panels, and the incremental and sequential activation of cleaning devices for the selected solar panels. The cleaning devices for the sequentially selected and obstructed solar panels may be powered by the prior solar panels that have been cleaned.

A system and method for removing debris from solar modules in a solar module array. The system includes an air supply for providing pressurized air to a debris removal wing, a support art configured to support the debris removal wing proximate a solar module, and a support base fixing the support arm to a vehicle, the vehicle operable to advance the debris removal wing along the solar module array. The debris removal wing includes a first air outlet for directed pressurized air to remove debris from the solar modules. The debris removal wing may include a second air outlet for directing pressurized air to at least partly hovering the debris removal wing proximate the solar modules.