The present invention discloses a ground mounting system, particularly for mounting solar photovoltaic panels on a planar or inclined surface or a surface that is partly planar and partly inclined The disclosed invention is a system that comprised of an array of soil nails, inserted in the ground; a plurality of adapting apparatus, each on top of each the nails; and a resulting structure supports racks, made of metal or plastic, or other structural profiles designed to enable mounting photovoltaic panels on it, wherein the racks are installed on the array of nail using the adapting apparatus.

The present invention discloses a ground mounting system, particularly for mounting solar photovoltaic panels on a planar or inclined surface or a surface that is partly planar and partly inclined The disclosed invention is a system that comprised of an array of soil nails, inserted in the ground; a plurality of adapting apparatus, each on top of each the nails; and a resulting structure supports racks, made of metal or plastic, or other structural profiles designed to enable mounting photovoltaic panels on it, wherein the racks are installed on the array of nail using the adapting apparatus.

A cross canal support structure for photovoltaic cells is disclosed. The structure includes a major frame having disconnectable and hinged connections to anchors at its corners, on either side of the canal. The major frame carries a plurality of minor frames, which are inclinable at an angle with respect to the major frame with the use of fixed or adjustable mounting plates. The combination of the major frame's tilt and the minor frame tilt enables fabrication of support structures that hold panels at latitude inclination for various portions of a canal.

A floating platform for solar panels is provided. The floating platform may include a plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates may have a ballast chamber filled with a ballast material. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a float chamber disposed over the ballast chamber. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a channel passing through the ballast chamber and the float chamber. The channel may further have one or more openings to pass water into the ballast chamber and an opening to pass air from the channel. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a locking member. Each of the plurality of plates may further have one or more connection sections for placing one or more strap assemblies. The strap assemblies may be provided for disposing one or more solar panels on the plurality of plates.

A protective transparent enclosure, such as a greenhouse, encloses a concentrated solar power system having line-focus solar energy concentrators. The line-focus solar energy concentrators have a reflective front layer, a core layer, and a rear layer. The core and the rear layers, when bonded with the reflective front layer, enable the line-focus solar energy concentrator, in some embodiments, to retain a particular form without additional strengthening elements. In some embodiments, the core layer and/or the rear layer are formed by removing material from a single piece of material.

Plant for producing solar energy including a support structure formed from support poles aligned fixed to the ground, a movement system for receiving devices of solar energy positioned on poles arranged in a row, adapted for allowing the movement of the devices about a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to one another, a rotating main tube about the first axis, to which a plurality of secondary tubes is connected, associated with said main tube, the secondary tubes having the receiver devices fixed to them and a movement mechanism for the primary tubes, and a sustaining and movement support arranged on each pole of said row, which has a housing that receives the main tube of the movement system and that allows the rotation thereof about the axis.

A system for stiffening a structure has at least one pair of tie rods (3), each tie rod (3) of the pair of tie rods (3) having a first end (4) fastened to the structure (2) and a second end (5), and at least one device (6) for tensioning the tie rods (3) having a deformable linking element (7) fastened to the second end (5) of each tie rod (3) so as to connect the tie rods (3). An actuator (10) is configured to deform the linking element (7) so as to make it pass from an inactive configuration in which the tie rods (3) are in a first state of tension to an active configuration in which the tie rods (3) are in a second state of tension, different than the first state of tension.

A device for concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, said device comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion having a cover film element with a light-permeable entry window for coupling in solar radiation and a reflector film for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, the reflector film sub-dividing the concentrator cushion into at least two hollow spaces and having a curvature in an inflated state. The device also comprises a pivoting apparatus, with which the concentrator cushion is pivotable, a retaining apparatus secured to the pivoting apparatus, and an adjusting device for adjusting the curvature of the reflector film. The retaining apparatus comprises a lower longitudinal member which is connected to a bottom film element of the concentrator cushion. The adjusting device comprises a tensioning element between the lower longitudinal member and the reflector film, said tensioning element being connected to the reflector film and to the lower longitudinal member.

A method and apparatus for mounting a solar collector panel by itself or supported within a frame, to a surface comprising: a strap assembly, a first attachment device attached to and between the panel or frame and the strap assembly; and a second attachment means for attaching the strap assembly to the surface. The strap assembly comprises a plurality of straps attached end to end. The first attachment device could be a bolt, a screw, adhesive, etc. Alternatively, there could be a support between the panel or frame and the strap assembly. The second attachment means may be: a nail, a spike, adhesive, bolting to a stud attached to the surface, welding, ballast, adhesive tape or combinations of these.

In an embodiment, a solar energy system includes multiple photovoltaic modules, each oriented substantially at a same angle relative to horizontal. The angle is independent of a latitude of an installation site of the solar energy system and is greater than or equal to 15 degrees. The solar energy system defines a continuous area within a perimeter of the solar energy system. The solar energy system is configured to capture at the photovoltaic modules substantially all light incoming towards the continuous area over an entire season.