One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include a photovoltaic roof tile module. The photovoltaic roof tile module can include at least: a first photovoltaic roof tile and a second photovoltaic roof tile positioned adjacent to each other, and a spacer coupled to and positioned between the first and second photovoltaic roof tiles. A respective photovoltaic roof tile can include front and back glass covers, and multiple cascaded strings encapsulated between the front and back glass covers. A respective cascaded string can include a plurality of photovoltaic structures electrically coupled to each other in series, and the multiple cascaded strings can be electrically coupled to each other in parallel. The first and second photovoltaic roof tiles can be electrically coupled to each other in parallel.

A photovoltaic module employing an array of photovoltaic cells disposed between two optically transparent substrates such as to define a closed-loop peripheral area of the module that does not contain a photovoltaic cell. The module is sealed with a peripheral seal along the perimeter; and is devoid of a structural element affixed to an optically transparent substrate and adapted to mount the module to a supporting structure. The two substrates may be bonded together with adhesive material and, optionally, the peripheral seal can include the adhesive material. The module optionally includes diffraction grating element(s) adjoining respectively corresponding PV-cell(s).

Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide a window, an energy and light producing device including at least one transparent photovoltaic device and at least one non-transparent Organic Light Emitting Device (OLED) in an optical path of the window. A controller may control the operation of the non-transparent OLED of the energy and light producing device. An energy storage device may be electrically coupled to the controller and the energy and light producing device to store energy generated by the transparent photovoltaic device and to power the non-transparent OLED. In some implementations, a LED or OLED may be mounted in the frame of the window and may be powered by the energy storage device.

One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a transparent back cover, and a plurality of polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover. A respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure has a front surface facing the front cover and a back surface facing the back cover. The photovoltaic roof tile can further include a paint layer positioned on a back surface of the back cover facing away from the front cover. A color of the paint layer substantially matches a color of the front surface of the respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure.

One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a back cover, a plurality of photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover, and a front-cover-colorant layer positioned on an interior surface of the transparent front cover that faces a top surface of the photovoltaic structures. A color of the front-cover-colorant layer can substantially match a color of the top surface of the photovoltaic structures, and the front-cover-colorant layer can be configured to cover regions of the interior surface that are not directly above the top surface of the photovoltaic structures, thereby enabling a substantially uniform appearance of the photovoltaic roof tile.

One embodiment can provide a photovoltaic roof tile. The photovoltaic roof tile can include a transparent front cover, a transparent back cover, and a plurality of polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover. A respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure has a front surface facing the front cover and a back surface facing the back cover. The photovoltaic roof tile can further include a paint layer positioned on a back surface of the back cover facing away from the front cover. A color of the paint layer substantially matches a color of the front surface of the respective polycrystalline-Si-based photovoltaic structure.

A solar module (2) comprising: (a) a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells (4); (b) a forward protective layer (22); (c) a rearward protective layer (24); and (d) an reinforcement (10); wherein the reinforcement is integrally located within the solar module and extends from a location substantially proximate to the forward protective layer to a location substantially proximate to the rearward protective layer.

A photovoltaic module including a transparent first layer forming a front face, plural photovoltaic cells, and an assembly encapsulating the photovoltaic cells. The first layer includes plural plates independent from each other, each plate located opposite a photovoltaic cell. Rigidity of the encapsulating assembly is defined by a Young's modulus of encapsulation material greater than or equal to 75 MPa at ambient temperature and a thickness of the encapsulating assembly between 0.4 and 1 mm. The first layer includes at least one transparent polymer material of acrylic block copolymers or a composition including at least one acrylic block copolymer having formula (A).sub.nB, in which: n is an integer greater than or equal to 1; A is an acrylic or methacrylic homo- or copolymer having a glass transition temperature greater than 50° C.; and B is an acrylic or methacrylic homo- or copolymer having a glass transition temperature less than 20° C.

Disclosed is a solar cell apparatus. The solar cell apparatus includes a solar cell panel; a protective substrate formed on the solar cell panel such that a step difference is formed between the protective substrate and the solar cell panel; and a sealing member at a lateral side of the solar cell panel and on a bottom surface of the protective substrate.

A photovoltaic (“PV”) macro-module for solar power generation includes a plurality of solar cell strings disposed within a laminated support structure. The solar cell strings generate solar power in response to light incident upon a frontside of the solar cell strings. Each of the solar cell strings includes a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series. The laminated support includes a substrate layer to provide physical environmental protection to a back side of the solar cell strings, a backside encapsulant layer disposed between the substrate layer and the solar cell strings, and a frontside encapsulant layer. The backside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the back side of the solar cell strings while the frontside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the frontside of the solar cell strings. The laminated support structure is compliant to rolling or folding.