A photovoltaic solar power plant assembly and a method of using said assembly to generate power are disclosed. The assembly includes an array of photovoltaic solar modules arranged in a solar module surface, and an optical structure for redirecting light towards said solar module surface, having a redirected light emitting surface. The optical structure includes: a planar optical waveguide which has a parallel first and second planar waveguide surfaces, wherein the first planar waveguide surface extends parallel to the redirected light emitting surface, wherein the first planar waveguide surface is at least partially covered by a photonic layer which is configured to provide an angular restriction of a light emission from the planar waveguide through the redirected light emitting surface, and a light scattering and/or luminescent material, which material is arranged as particles in the planar optical waveguide and/or in a layer which at least partially covers the second planar waveguide surface.

The present disclosure relates to down-shifting nanophosphors, a method for preparing the same, and a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) using the same. The down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure include a core including NaYF.sub.4 nanocrystals doped with neodymium (Nd) and ytterbium (Yb), and further include a neodymium (Nd)-doped crystalline shell surrounding the core, or further include a NaYF.sub.4 crystalline shell surrounding the crystalline shell. Therefore, the down-shifting nanophosphors efficiently absorb near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 700-900 nm and efficiently emit near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 950-1050 nm. In addition, the down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a size of 60 nm or less, and thus can be applied to manufacture transparent LSC films with ease and can realize transparent solar cell modules having high near infrared ray shifting efficiency.

The present disclosure relates to down-shifting nanophosphors, a method for preparing the same, and a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) using the same. The down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure include a core including NaYF.sub.4 nanocrystals doped with neodymium (Nd) and ytterbium (Yb), and further include a neodymium (Nd)-doped crystalline shell surrounding the core, or further include a NaYF.sub.4 crystalline shell surrounding the crystalline shell. Therefore, the down-shifting nanophosphors efficiently absorb near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 700-900 nm and efficiently emit near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 950-1050 nm. In addition, the down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a size of 60 nm or less, and thus can be applied to manufacture transparent LSC films with ease and can realize transparent solar cell modules having high near infrared ray shifting efficiency.

The disclosed invention relates to solar-thermal receiver tubes for heating high-temperature fluids such as molten salts and oils, such as those used in conjunction with trough reflectors or concentric concentrators. The disclosed invention utilizes fused silica receiver tube assemblies that provide optical absorption by way of optically-absorbing media that is imbedded within the thermal transfer fluid, preferably comprising inorganic dyes that comprise pulverized thin film coatings or dissolved materials that are specifically designed for maximizing optical absorption. Alternatively, the chemistry of the transfer fluid can be modified to increase optical absorption, or the optically absorbing media may comprise fine powders with density preferably similar to the thermal transfer fluid, such as fine graphite powder; or, in another preferred embodiment, absorbing means within the heat transfer fluid comprise a solid absorbing element disposed along the central axis of the receiver tube's interior.

A structure for growing plants and/or algae and for capturing solar energy is disclosed. The structure includes an enclosure having a roof and optionally one or more walls, a solar energy concentrator on at least part of the structure, an energy conversion device adjacent to at least one peripheral edge of the solar energy concentrator, and one or more supports or surfaces configured to enable the plants and/or algae to receive at least some of the solar energy. The solar energy concentrator absorbs or collects at least a first wavelength or wavelength band of light and allows at least a second wavelength or wavelength band of light different from the first wavelength or wavelength band of light to pass through (e.g., to the plants and/or algae). The solar energy concentrator comprises one or more absorbers or fluorophores selected from phycobiliproteins, fucoxanthins and luminescent molecules and materials. The energy conversion device is configured to receive and convert light emitted and/or collected by the solar energy concentrator to electrical or thermal energy. A method of growing plants and/or algae and for capturing solar energy using the same or similar structure is also disclosed.

The disclosed invention relates to solar-thermal receiver tubes for heating high-temperature fluids such as molten salts and oils, such as those used in conjunction with trough reflectors or concentric concentrators. The disclosed invention utilizes fused silica receiver tube assemblies that provide optical absorption by way of optically-absorbing media that is imbedded within the thermal transfer fluid, preferably comprising inorganic dyes that comprise pulverized thin film coatings or dissolved materials that are specifically designed for maximizing optical absorption. Alternatively, the chemistry of the transfer fluid can be modified to increase optical absorption, or the optically absorbing media may comprise fine powders with density preferably similar to the thermal transfer fluid, such as fine graphite powder; or, in another preferred embodiment, absorbing means within the heat transfer fluid comprise a solid absorbing element disposed along the central axis of the receiver tube's interior.

Semiconducting quantum dots are applied to a fluid. The quantum dots are configured to absorb visible or near infrared light and re-radiate infrared energy that excites a fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid.

A modular kit for integration and installation of one or more bioreactors for microalgae cultivation includes: at least one bioreactor for microalgae cultivation, in the form of a vertically arranged transparent tubular column; a supporting structure adapted to integrate and support the base of the at least one bioreactor, and also adapted to internally house a first connection to a system for loading and unloading a cultivation vector fluid into/from the at least one bioreactor, and a second connection to a system for supplying CO2-supplemented air into the at least one bioreactor; multiple modules forming respective frames with internal empty spaces and adapted to be connected to one another to house, in the empty spaces, the at least one bioreactor; the multiple modules being also so shaped as to convey filtered light into the at least one bioreactor.

The disclosed invention relates to solar-thermal receiver tubes for heating high-temperature fluids such as molten salts and oils, such as those used in conjunction with trough reflectors or concentric concentrators. The disclosed invention utilizes fused silica receiver tube assemblies that provide optical absorption by way of optically-absorbing media that is imbedded within the thermal transfer fluid, preferably comprising inorganic dyes that comprise pulverized thin film coatings or dissolved materials that are specifically designed for maximizing optical absorption. Alternatively, the chemistry of the transfer fluid can be modified to increase optical absorption, or the optically absorbing media may comprise fine powders with density preferably similar to the thermal transfer fluid, such as fine graphite powder; or, in another preferred embodiment, absorbing means within the heat transfer fluid comprise a solid absorbing element disposed along the central axis of the receiver tube's interior.

A photovoltaic solar power plant assembly and a method of using said assembly to generate power are disclosed. The assembly includes an array of photovoltaic solar modules arranged in a solar module surface, and an optical structure for redirecting light towards said solar module surface, having a redirected light emitting surface. The optical structure includes: a planar optical waveguide which has a parallel first and second planar waveguide surfaces, wherein the first planar waveguide surface extends parallel to the redirected light emitting surface, wherein the first planar waveguide surface is at least partially covered by a photonic layer which is configured to provide an angular restriction of a light emission from the planar waveguide through the redirected light emitting surface, and a light scattering and/or luminescent material, which material is arranged as particles in the planar optical waveguide and/or in a layer which at least partially covers the second planar waveguide surface.