An apparatus and method for producing a perpetual energy harvester which harvests ambient near ultraviolet to infrared radiation and provides continual power regardless of the environment. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a semiconductor thermal harvester, providing a continuous source of power. Additionally, increased power output is provided through a solar harvester. The solar and thermal harvesters are physically connected but electrically isolated.

An apparatus and method for producing a perpetual energy harvester which harvests ambient near ultraviolet to infrared radiation and provides continual power regardless of the environment. The device seeks to harvest the largely overlooked blackbody radiation through use of a semiconductor thermal harvester, providing a continuous source of power. Additionally, increased power output is provided through a solar harvester. The solar and thermal harvesters are physically connected but electrically isolated.

A novel PV module carrier and methods of use provide protection for PV modules during transportation, field handling, and assembly with racking systems. The carrier contains elements of a racking system to allow for quicker installation in the field. The PV module carrier reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for frame elements, while reducing field installation time and labor cost for system installation.

A novel PV module carrier and methods of use provide protection for PV modules during transportation, field handling, and assembly with racking systems. The carrier contains elements of a racking system to allow for quicker installation in the field. The PV module carrier reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for frame elements, while reducing field installation time and labor cost for system installation.

Multiple semiconductor p-n junctions may be built into a single structure to expand the optical capabilities of a device. For example, multi-junction solar cells have improved efficiencies and thus may be desirable for a variety of reasons. Typically, tunnel junctions have been used to connect the plurality of junctions in a two-terminal, layered structure, wherein the junctions are in series electrically and optically. This approach has a variety of drawbacks that lead to higher cost and complexity. The present disclosure embraces an intermetallic bonded multi-junction solar cell that eliminates the problems associated with tunnel junctions and offers additional improvements, such as, photon recycling, light trapping, and simplicity. The present disclosure can also be used as a substitute for wafer bonding with potential advantages for high solar concentration applications. It can also be used in bonding LED structures to achieve white light and dual color LEDs

Systems for generating solar power are provided. One such system includes a solar radiation collector and one or more side-emitting fiber-optic cables, coupled to the solar radiation collector. The system further includes one or more photovoltaic cell enclosures, including an outer housing and one or more photovoltaic cells, wherein the one or more side-emitting fiber-optic cables is positioned within the outer housing and configured to emit, to the one or more photovoltaic cells, solar radiation collected from the solar radiation collector.

Systems for generating solar power are provided. One such system includes a solar radiation collector and one or more side-emitting fiber-optic cables, coupled to the solar radiation collector. The system further includes one or more photovoltaic cell enclosures, including an outer housing and one or more photovoltaic cells, wherein the one or more side-emitting fiber-optic cables is positioned within the outer housing and configured to emit, to the one or more photovoltaic cells, solar radiation collected from the solar radiation collector.

A multi-element photovoltaic cell having two or more photovoltaic elements with an isolation layer interposed between all contiguous photovoltaic elements. Each photovoltaic element has an element front conductor and an element rear conductor which are in electrical contact with the photovoltaic layer of the photovoltaic element. The current from a respective photovoltaic element which is generated as incident solar radiation irradiates the photovoltaic cell, flows independently of the other photovoltaic elements to one or more capacitor banks controlled by a photovoltaic controller. The photovoltaic controller controls charging and discharging of element capacitors of the capacitor banks so as to optimize the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell.

A multi-element photovoltaic cell having two or more photovoltaic elements with an isolation layer interposed between all contiguous photovoltaic elements. Each photovoltaic element has an element front conductor and an element rear conductor which are in electrical contact with the photovoltaic layer of the photovoltaic element. The current from a respective photovoltaic element which is generated as incident solar radiation irradiates the photovoltaic cell, flows independently of the other photovoltaic elements to one or more capacitor banks controlled by a photovoltaic controller. The photovoltaic controller controls charging and discharging of element capacitors of the capacitor banks so as to optimize the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell.

The present disclosure pertains to a photovoltaic product (1), comprising a foil with a photovoltaic layer stack (10) and an electrically conductive layer stack (20) that supports the photovoltaic layer stack and that in an operational state provides for a transport of electric energy generated by the photovoltaic layer stack to an external load. The electrically conductive layer stack (20) comprises a first and a second electrically conductive layer (21, 22) and an electrically insulating layer (23) arranged between the first and the second electrically conductive layer, wherein the photovoltaic layer stack (10) has first electrical contacts (PI, P2) of a first polarity that are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive background domain (210) and has second electrical contacts (N1, N2) of a second polarity opposite to said first polarity that are electrically connected to the first contact areas (211), and wherein the second electrically conductive background domain (220) and one or more of the second contact areas (221) serve as electric contacts for the output clamps.