The present invention relates to photovoltaic lined optical cavity for a robust power generating apparatus consisting of said cavities and manufacturing methods for said cavities. The photovoltaic lined optical cavity comprises of an optical core, a base substrate, photovoltaic layers lining the optical core, and optical elements. The photovoltaic lined optical cavity is optimized for the light capture of solar radiation and sufficient integrity against mechanical loads.

A back contact solar cell string includes: at least two cell pieces, where each cell piece comprises positive electrode regions and negative electrode regions alternately disposed with each other; insulation layers, covering the positive electrode regions on one side of the cell piece and the negative electrode regions on another side of the cell piece; and a first bus bar, connected to two adjacent cell pieces and electrically connected to the positive electrode regions and the negative electrode regions in the two adjacent cell pieces that are not covered by the insulation layers.

The invented optical chamber is sealed and encapsulated by a transparent element, a connection element and a transparent substrate or another transparent element. The optical chamber is filled with a transparent fluid and equipped with an electronic sensing and execution component. The surface state, the position and the inclination of the optical chamber are adjusted by the electronic sensing and execution component or through a movable part of the connection element, thereby adjusting the output direction and the focal length of the light beam. The optical chambers are combined in series or in array to constitute an operational solar concentrator adapted to output more than one controlled convergent light beam or a directional light beam to support various light energy applications, such as long-distance lighting, heating, light energy and signal transmission, increased electric energy production, and weather control. The invention is provided to adjust the internal temperature and pressure to adapt to extremely high power and extreme environments. Biotechnology is useful for obtaining the same structure and function.

An apparatus is described for converting light of a light source into electrical energy. The apparatus includes a layered body having flat elements, a photovoltaic cell, a light conducting element, a light-switching element , and a photovoltaic cell arranged on a boundary surface of the layered body. The light-switching element (16) can be set to either transmit or block light, In the case of blocking, the light-switching element couples light into the photovoltaic cell t to convert received light into electric energy.

A method for manufacturing a concentrating photovoltaic solar sub-module equipped with a reflective face having a concave predefined geometric shape, wherein it includes laminating, in a single step, a multi-layer assembly comprising in succession: a structural element equipped with a reflective first face and a second face, opposite the first; a layer of a material of good thermal conductivity, higher than that of the material from which the structural element is composed, the layer being placed on the second face of the structural element; a layer of encapsulant or of adhesive; a photovoltaic receiver, the layer of encapsulant or of adhesive being placed between the layer of a material of good thermal conductivity and the receiver; a layer made of transparent encapsulating material, covering at least the entire surface of the photovoltaic receiver; and a transparent protective layer covering the layer made of transparent encapsulating material; and during the lamination, the reflective face of the structural element is shaped by being brought into contact with a convex surface of a counter-mold, in order to obtain the reflective face of concave predefined geometric shape.

A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.

An integrated laminate structure adapted for application in the context of solar technology, wafer technology, cooling channels, greenhouse illumination, window illumination, street lighting, traffic lighting, traffic reflectors or security films, includes a first carrier element such as a piece of plastic or glass, optionally having optically substantially transparent material enabling light transmission therethrough, a second carrier element provided with at least one surface relief pattern including a number of surface relief forms and having at least one predetermined optical function relative to incident light, the second carrier element optionally including optically substantially transparent material enabling light transmission therethrough, the first and second carrier elements being laminated together such that the at least one surface relief pattern has been embedded within the established laminate structure and a number of related cavities have been formed at the interface of the first and second carrier elements. An applicable method of manufacture is presented.

The invention relates to a hybrid solar panel comprising: a photovoltaic module; a heat exchanger arranged opposite in the rear surface of said photovoltaic module; a cooling fluid circulating in said exchanger; the heat exchanger including a heat exchange area; inner channels extending over the entire surface of the exchange area; the heat exchange area is made up of a double cellular plate with cells provided in the form of adjacent inner channels in fluid communication with the intake and discharge areas, characterised in that: the side ends are sealed; the plate comprises openings made in the lower wall in order to establish fluid communication between each channel and the intake and discharge areas, respectively; and the intake and discharge areas are provided in the form of collectors placed on the lower wall at the openings, so that said upper wall remains planar over the entire surface thereof.

There is provided a light trapping dynamic photovoltaic module having a module surface configured to be exposed to solar rays, including a plurality of photovoltaic cell stacks configured adjacent to each other throughout the module surface, wherein each photovoltaic cell stack comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells. Further, a plurality of reflective strips are placed in between each of the photovoltaic cell stacks for continuously reflecting incident solar rays from one reflective strip to another until absorbed by a photovoltaic cell among said plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the incident solar rays are continuously reflected through a mirror phenomenon, wherein the incident solar rays are additionally reflected by front and back panels of the dynamic photovoltaic module, thereby trapping incident solar rays within boundaries of the dynamic photovoltaic module for conversion into electrical energy. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the light trapping photovoltaic module.

The invention relates to a concentrator photovoltaic module comprising a housing, a photovoltaic chip, at least two electrical contacts for contacting the photovoltaic chip, and a transparent cover. The housing has a recess forming a receiving tray with a recessed bottom portion for receiving the photovoltaic chip. The receiving tray has side walls with at least a first and a second reflective region. The first reflective region is oriented at a first angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the housing and the second reflective region is oriented at a second angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the housing. The first angle is different from the second angle.