A dispatchable photovoltaic (PV) panel product that includes multiple types of voltage sources is described. The product can include a PV panel that includes PV cells, a battery, and a panel level panel mounted inverter coupled to the PV panel and the battery. Each of the battery and the PV panel are to generate direct current (DC) power. The panel level inverter is to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) power and discharge the AC power to an electrical load. The panel level inverter can include a voltage source interface converter (VSIC) for charging or discharging the battery using a charge/discharge profile for the battery. The panel level inverter can also include a voltage source monitoring/protection system to (i) protect the battery from damage; and (ii) monitor at least one of a condition of the battery or a condition of the PV panel.

A dispatchable photovoltaic (PV) panel product that includes multiple types of voltage sources is described. The product can include a PV panel that includes PV cells, a battery, and a panel level panel mounted inverter coupled to the PV panel and the battery. Each of the battery and the PV panel are to generate direct current (DC) power. The panel level inverter is to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) power and discharge the AC power to an electrical load. The panel level inverter can include a voltage source interface converter (VSIC) for charging or discharging the battery using a charge/discharge profile for the battery. The panel level inverter can also include a voltage source monitoring/protection system to (i) protect the battery from damage; and (ii) monitor at least one of a condition of the battery or a condition of the PV panel.

A composite structure comprising an organic resin and carbon fibers comprises planar structure graphene nanosheets embedded in the resin. This structure combining good properties in terms of mechanical resilience, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can advantageously be used for thermal dissipation devices, as solar generator substrate or else as housing of electronic components, carried on board satellites.

A composite structure comprising an organic resin and carbon fibers comprises planar structure graphene nanosheets embedded in the resin. This structure combining good properties in terms of mechanical resilience, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity can advantageously be used for thermal dissipation devices, as solar generator substrate or else as housing of electronic components, carried on board satellites.

A solar panel cooling system and apparatus. The cooling system includes a shroud that is coupleable to a back side of a solar panel. The shroud encloses a space on the back side of the solar panel and includes a nozzle for spraying cooling fluid onto the back side of the solar panel. The cooling fluid spray is contained within the space and is recirculated through a closed loop system to cool the cooling fluid before again being sprayed by the nozzle. Thermal energy absorbed by the solar panel is transferred to the cooling fluid to cool the solar panel. A backing element can be applied to the solar panel that aids transfer of thermal energy to the cooling fluid, directs the drainage flow of the cooling fluid, or comprises a thermo-electric generator to generate additional electrical energy from the system.

An example device includes a photovoltaic (PV) unit and a desiccant-based passive cooling component that is thermally coupled to the PV unit. The desiccant-based passive cooling component is configured to sorb, under first conditions, moisture from an environment that surrounds the device, via at least one of adsorption or absorption, and evaporate, under second conditions that are different from the first conditions, at least a portion of the moisture.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for user-preference driven control of electrical and thermal output from a photonic energy device are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes automatically modulating an amount of thermal output and/or electrical power output generated by a solar photovoltaic module in response to an input of one or more user preferences by: adjusting at least one variable pertaining to a fluid positioned on the solar photovoltaic module based on the one or more user preferences; and adjusting at least one variable pertaining to one or more reflective surfaces physically connected to the solar photovoltaic module based on the one or more user preferences.

According to one embodiment, a cooling plate for a solar panel for cooling a solar panel comprises: a planar body positioned on the rear surface of a solar panel; and a fluid guide part comprising a plurality of flow paths for guiding a fluid for cooling the solar panel, between inlets formed on one side of the planar body and outlets formed on the other side of the planar body, wherein the surface of the planar body that comes into direct contact with a back sheet of the solar panel may be flat.

An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.