An energy harvesting vehicle includes a plurality of vehicular panels, and an energy canopy. The energy canopy is connected to at least two of the plurality of vehicular panels configured for generating electrical energy. The energy canopy includes a predetermined number of surfaces configured for receiving incident light, the incident light being received for a plurality of time durations. At least one of the predetermined number of surfaces includes a solar unit configured for harvesting the incident light. A predetermined number of solar units are positioned on a portion of the predetermined number of surfaces. The predetermined number of surfaces are connected in one of a series connection and a parallel connection with each other. The one of the series connection and the parallel connection between the predetermined number of surfaces are configured for improving an energy conversion efficiency of the energy canopy, through enhanced harvesting of the incident light.

An energy harvesting vehicle includes a plurality of vehicular panels, and an energy canopy. The energy canopy is connected to at least two of the plurality of vehicular panels configured for generating electrical energy. The energy canopy includes a predetermined number of surfaces configured for receiving incident light, the incident light being received for a plurality of time durations. At least one of the predetermined number of surfaces includes a solar unit configured for harvesting the incident light. A predetermined number of solar units are positioned on a portion of the predetermined number of surfaces. The predetermined number of surfaces are connected in one of a series connection and a parallel connection with each other. The one of the series connection and the parallel connection between the predetermined number of surfaces are configured for improving an energy conversion efficiency of the energy canopy, through enhanced harvesting of the incident light.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.

Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

A serial-parallel converter protection system includes a controller, a drive, a first switching transistor, and a second switching transistor. An input terminal of a converter is connected to an output terminal of the converter through the first switching transistor. The output terminal of the converter is connected in parallel with the second switching transistor. When an output voltage of the converter is greater than a first threshold, the controller controls the first switching transistor to be turned off and controls the second switching transistor to be turned on. In some embodiments, when the output voltage of the converter is greater than the first threshold, the controller controls the first switching transistor to be turned off and controls the second switching transistor to be turned on, so that the converter is bypassed, thereby preventing a voltage and a current from impacting a component inside the converter.

An inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness for photovoltaic solar facilities includes a housing, a plurality of PV input connectors, an at least one PV output connector. The housing incorporates a DC/DC converter, and has an input and an output. The plurality of PV input connectors are operatively connected to the housing at the input. The PV output connector is operatively connected to the housing at the output.

An inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness for photovoltaic solar facilities includes a housing, a plurality of PV input connectors, an at least one PV output connector. The housing incorporates a DC/DC converter, and has an input and an output. The plurality of PV input connectors are operatively connected to the housing at the input. The PV output connector is operatively connected to the housing at the output.

A metering and control subsystem for a photovoltaic solar system is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement devices and individually controlling relays to selectively energize photovoltaic branch circuits. In some examples, the metering and control subsystem includes photovoltaic branch connectors, a relay matrix, current measurement devices, and a metering and relay control circuit. The metering and control circuit is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement data from the current measurement devices and individually controlling the relays to selectively energize each photovoltaic branch circuit.