Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized areas. The use of modules that replicate the look of individual roofing tiles (or shingles) can lead to a more efficient installation process. Further, modules can include flexible joints between the distinct tiles-sized areas, across which solar cells within the module are electrically connected. The flexibility granted to the modules also makes installation easier, and further improves the fatigue and strain resistance of the overall solar array for its operational life.

Solar trackers and methods for assembling same are described herein. A pair of ballast blocks, simultaneously using a slip-form paver having a cut-off blade, by positioning the paver at a start point of the pair of ballast blocks. The cut-off blade is oriented in a closed position, halting flow of concrete. The slip-form paver is advanced to an end point of the pair of ballast blocks. While advancing the slip-form paver, the cut-off blade is simultaneously moved to an open position. The open position permits flow of the concrete through the mold depositing onto a solar tracker location. After reaching the end point, the cut-off blade is moved to the closed position. Grooves oriented lengthwise are formed in each ballast block. A leg structure of the solar tracker is secured into the grooves.

A hydronic panel and system for heating and/or cooling a room is disclosed. The hydronic panel includes a plurality of contiguous channels. A first chamber is located at a first end, preferably the upper end, of the panel and includes an inlet and communicates with a first subset of the channels. A second chamber is located at an opposite end of the panel and communicates with the first subset and also with a second subset of the channels. A third chamber is located at the first end of the panel, the third chamber communicates with the second subset of the channels and includes an outlet. In this configuration, heated or cooled water flows from the inlet into the first chamber, through the first subset of the channels, to the second chamber, through the second subset of the channels, into the third chamber and out the outlet. Consequently, the heated or cooled water can heat or cool the space. In addition to at least one hydronic panel, the system includes a source of heated and/or cooled water under sufficient pressure to cause the water to flow through the panel. The system also includes a controller to control one or both of the temperature of the water and the flow rate of the water through the panel.

A solar panel mounting system included a top hub and bottom hub comprising a receptacle in a center portion of the hub shaped to receive a pole and a plurality of attachment points affixed to an exterior portion of the receptacle, a girder assembly comprising: a plurality of top girders and a plurality of bottom girders each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened the bottom hub at their proximal ends and each of the plurality of bottom girders being configured to be mechanically fastened to the plurality of top girders; and a plurality of mounting module purlins, wherein each of the module mounting purlins connect to at least two of the plurality of top girders, and wherein each of the plurality of mounting module purlins is radially connected to at least one other of the plurality of module mounting purlins.

The present application relates to a modular tower-type solar thermal power generation system, which comprises: a solar thermal collector device configured for collecting solar thermal energy, a heat exchanger connected to the solar thermal collector device and configured for producing superheated saturated steam, and a thermal power conversion device connected to the heat exchanger and configured for converting the superheated saturated steam into electrical energy; the solar thermal collector device comprises a plurality of tower-type solar thermal modules. By adopting a solar power generation system with a modular solar energy collector device, the present application can simplify the construction process, reduce the construction period, and can further reduce design cost and investment cost of a power station, as well as improve the efficiency of the heliostat field; moreover, when one of the single towers malfunctions, the working situations of other tower-type solar thermal modules won't be affected, and thus the continuity and stability of power supply using the whole power generation system are ensure.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides solar panel mounting and charging system comprising a hub and a girder assembly. The hub may comprise a plurality of attachment points on its exterior. The girder assembly may comprise a plurality of top girders configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and having a distance between their distal ends that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders. The girder assembly may also comprise a plurality of bottom girders configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and the plurality of top girders at their distal ends. The system may further comprise an electric vehicle charging system affixed to the pole, wherein the electric vehicle charging system is configured to receive electrical power from at least one solar panel affixed to the girder assembly.

Provided are a heliostat calibration, device and a heliostat calibration method that can suppress time-change-dependent control error increases and can reduce calibration frequency. The present invention is provided with: an initial position information acquisition unit that acquires initial position information for a heliostat; a theoretical value calculating unit that calculates from the heliostat initial position information and sun position information a theoretical value that is related to the orientation of the heliostat; a deviation calculation unit that, using as input an actual measured value for the orientation of the heliostat, calculates the deviation between the theoretical value and the actual measured value at least two times a day; and a coordinate calibration unit that, when the deviation exceeds a threshold value, calibrates the coordinates of the heliostat such that the deviation is at or below the threshold value.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized areas. The use of modules that replicate the look of individual roofing tiles (or shingles) can lead to a more efficient installation process. Further, modules can include flexible joints between the distinct tiles-sized areas, across which solar cells within the module are electrically connected. The flexibility granted to the modules also makes installation easier, and further improves the fatigue and strain resistance of the overall solar array for its operational life.

The inventive solar heat collection system reduces the risk of damage to heat transfer pipes of a high-temperature heat collection device. The low-temperature heat collection device (1) heats water by sunlight heat to generate steam. The steam-water separation device (4) separates a water-steam two-phase fluid generated in the low-temperature heat collection device into water and steam. The high-temperature heat collection device (5) heats the steam separated by the steam-water separation device by use of heat of sunlight reflected by a plurality of heliostats (8), thereby generating superheated steam. The heliostat control device (13) controls angles of the plurality of heliostats so that metal temperature of the high-temperature heat collection device is maintained not to be higher than a threshold temperature set to prevent overshoot of steam temperature at an outlet of the high-temperature heat collection device.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides solar panel mounting system comprising a hub and a girder assembly. The hub may comprise a plurality of attachment points on its exterior. The girder assembly may comprise a plurality of top girders configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends, and having a distance between their distal ends that is greater than a distance between the proximal ends of the top girders. The girder assembly may also comprise a plurality of bottom configured to be mechanically fastened to each other at their proximal ends and the plurality of top girders at their distal ends. Further, the girder assembly and one of the plurality of attachment points of the hub may be configured to be mechanically fastened to each other.