A header for photovoltaic module support system and a photovoltatic module support system is disclosed. In various embodiments the header includes a beam and a plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam, each of the plurality of strongback mounting tabs attached to the beam such that the mounting tabs have an upward face that is mounted generally flush with an upward surface of the beam such that the upward face of the mounting tab and the upward surface of the beam define a support surface for an attachable strongback. In various embodiments the header includes a standoff and stabilizing rod attached to a downward surface of the beam, the stabilizing rod having a first end and second end attached to the downward surface of the beam with a main body that extends lengthwise with the beam and radially outward over the standoff.

A photovoltaic panel includes: a plurality of power generation portions each having a light receiving surface, each power generation portion including a plurality of power generating elements each configured to generate power in accordance with an amount of received light; and a coupling portion configured to couple each power generation portion, wherein each power generation portion is coupled so as to be rotatable about the coupling portion used as a rotation axis, and the power generation portions are capable of, by being rotated, taking a light receiving position at which the power generation portions are located such that the light receiving surfaces of the power generation portions are oriented to an identical direction, and a fold position at which the power generation portions are located such that a set of the light receiving surfaces of the power generation portions face each other.

A device is provided which reduces the temperature of a solar PV panel. The device includes an enclosure comprising a heat sink attachable to a bottom side of the solar PV panel to provide an air channel, and a tornado tube. The tornado pipe may be oriented vertically to the plane of the earth, and may act as a solar chimney, instigating a flow of air to enter the enclosure through an air inlet. This air flow may be drawn across the heat sink and exit back to the atmosphere through the tornado tube.

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

A thermophotovoltaic panel, including a first surface for receiving solar radiation, photovoltaic cells connected to said first receiving surface, a heat exchanger connected to said photovoltaic cells, and a second surface, opposite to the first, for supporting the panel, said heat exchanger being positioned between said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein said photovoltaic cells and said exchanger are embedded in at least one resin, preferably cold-polymerised epoxy resin, to constitute a body including said first receiving surface and said second supporting surface, wherein at least one layer of resin at said first receiving surface is constituted of substantially transparent resin.

The present invention is related to the field of solar concentrators and associated energy conversion apparatus. More particularly, the invention discloses a solar tracking apparatus particularly advantageous for use with solar concentrating optics comprising compound conical concentrators, wherein modular tracking means and integration provide fast drop-in replacement, as well as low-material usage. Also disclosed are improved structures and methods for producing stackable frustum structures of the embodied optical concentrator. Additional structures specific to the inventive solar tracker are also disclosed.

A solar module construction comprises at least one pyramidal support unit with a triangular base and triangular lateral planes as well as photovoltaic units provided on at least one of the lateral planes of the support unit. The support unit includes a supporting frame which spans the triangular base by means of base struts and the lateral planes by means of lateral struts. At least one of the lateral planes is stretched over with a flexible material. On at least one lateral plane photovoltaic units in the form of flexible solar modules are installed on the membrane. A multiplicity of such solar module constructions together forms a solar module array, preferably with solar module pairs, which are composed of two solar module constructions and form a parallelogram.

A power generation plant includes a support structure formed by supporting piles aligned fastened to the ground, such structure being a bi-dimensional structure placed on an agricultural land, with any orientation. The power generation plant further includes a handling system for solar energy receptor devices placed on the piles arranged in a row, adapted to allow the handling of such devices around at least a first axis. The plant also includes one or more greenhouses for intensive cultivation of agricultural products, on the ground beneath such receptor devices, between rows of adjacent piles.

A solar generator apparatus includes: a generator module having first to fourth corner portions; a middle column mounted on a fixed structure and pivotally connected to the generator module; first and second winding devices attached to the middle column; first to fourth cables; and first to fourth elastic anchors. The first to fourth cables have first ends respectively connected to the first to fourth corner portions. The first and third cables are wound around the first winding device. The second and fourth cables are wound around the second winding device. The first to fourth elastic anchors are elastically mounted on the fixed structure. The first to fourth cables respectively pass through the first to fourth elastic anchors to form two W-shaped structures. Each elastic anchor includes an elastic member and a restricting member connected in parallel. The restricting member restricts a maximum deformation amount of the elastic member.