Insulated buildings are described. The building include: (a) a sloped roof that is a prefabricated insulated roof assembly; (b) a generally horizontally arranged flooring assembly having an end that is arranged over a wall structure and under the sloped roof assembly; (c) a sloped member that is arranged over the end of the flooring assembly that is over the wall structure, and (d) a rigid foam insulation member arranged in the cavity of the roof assembly so as to bridge a lower surface of a rigid foam insulation board in the roof assembly to the sloped member.

An inverter for converting DC voltage into AC voltage, in particular a photovoltaic inverter for high power densities, in particular 250 W/dm.sup.3 to 500 W/dm.sup.3 power densities, has at least one DC input, an AC output, a heat sink, a printed circuit board, a DC disconnector, a DC-DC converter, an intermediate circuit, a DC-AC converter and a housing with a front cover and a basic shell. The electrical components of the DC-DC converter, intermediate circuit and DC-AC converter are combined into subassemblies. At least the DC disconnector and the subassemblies of the DC-DC converter, intermediate circuit and DC-AC converter are directly arranged on the circuit board in a U-shaped manner corresponding to the energy flow direction from DC input to AC output. The circuit board is arranged with the component side facing the base (65) of the basic housing shell and with the opposite side on the heat sink.

Prefabricated insulated roof assemblies, methods for manufacturing such assemblies, and use of these roof assemblies in a building are described. The assemblies include a sheathing panel comprising an inset solar panel, I-joists, and a rigid foam insulation board positioned in a cavity formed by the sheathing panel and the I-joists.

The invention relates to a device (1) for aligning a solar panel (20) with respect to an installation rail which is attached to a base, in particular a roof, prior to installation. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one solar panel (20) and at least one such device (1) which is coupled to a frame (21) of the solar panel (20). The invention furthermore relates to a method for aligning a solar panel (20), with respect to an installation rail attached to a base, in particular a roof, prior to installation by using at least one such device (1), optionally followed by the installation of the at least one solar panel (20) to the support rail.

An energy storage canopy associated with a local building is provided. The energy storage canopy includes support members that can support compartments, which may be integral with or removable from the energy storage canopy. Each compartment includes a plurality of high capacity batteries to store electrical energy, at least one power conditioner to allow coupling high capacity batteries to the power grid and/or the AC distribution panel of the local building, and a refrigerant energy storage tank containing a working fluid. The refrigerant energy storage tank contains piping or ductwork to be in fluid communication with the HVAC system, refrigerant system, or atmosphere of the local building to provide stored refrigerant energy to the local building.

A photovoltaic inverter includes a box, and an inverter cabinet, a direct current cabinet, an alternating current cabinet, a communication cabinet, and a power distribution cabinet which are all arranged in the box. The inverter cabinet is arranged on a first side of the box. The alternating current cabinet, the communication cabinet and the power distribution cabinet are all arranged on a second side of the box. The alternating current cabinet, the communication cabinet, and the power distribution cabinet are all arranged opposite to the inverter cabinet. The direct current cabinet is arranged on a third side of the box, and the direct current cabinet is arranged on a same side of the inverter cabinet and the alternating current cabinet.

Prefabricated insulated roof assemblies, methods for manufacturing such assemblies, and use of these roof assemblies in a building are described. The assemblies include a sheathing panel, I-joists, and rigid foam insulation boards positioned in a cavity formed by the sheathing panel and the I-joists.

An energy storage canopy associated with a local building is provided. The energy storage canopy includes support members that can support compartments, which may be integral with or removable from the energy storage canopy. Each compartment includes a plurality of high capacity batteries to store electrical energy, at least one power conditioner to allow coupling high capacity batteries to an external unit. The external unit may be a power grid, a building, other loads, or the like.

The present invention relates to resiliency in photovoltaically produced power generation and utilization. This invention comprises a system of elements that combine to minimize the cost and complexity of a backup-capable solar power system. An element of this system is a prior-art balancer-based photovoltaic panel power optimizer whose power electronics are time-shared to allow an array of battery modules to power or provide supplemental or surge power to an inverter. Further elements of the system provide for rapid and low-cost installation, reliability, and easy and safe maintenance.

A junction box used for making electrical connections to a photovoltaic panel. The junction box has two chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber and a wall common to and separating both chambers. The wall may be adapted to have an electrical connection therethrough. The two lids are adapted to seal respectively the two chambers. The two lids are on opposite sides of the junction box relative to the photovoltaic panel. The two lids may be attachable using different sealing processes to a different level of hermeticity. The first chamber may be adapted to receive a circuit board for electrical power conversion. The junction box may include supports for mounting a printed circuit board in the first chamber. The second chamber is configured for electrical connection to the photovoltaic panel. A metal heat sink may be bonded inside the first chamber.