There is a dynamically adjustable photovoltaic (PV) system for transforming solar energy into electrical energy. The dynamically adjustable PV system includes a first PV fold including a first set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a first laminating film that encapsulates the first set of PV cells; a second PV fold including a second set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a second laminating film that encapsulates the second set of PV cells; and a connecting mechanism that connects the first laminating film to the second laminating film. The connecting mechanism includes a chamber.

There is a dynamically adjustable photovoltaic (PV) system for transforming solar energy into electrical energy. The dynamically adjustable PV system includes a first PV fold including a first set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a first laminating film that encapsulates the first set of PV cells; a second PV fold including a second set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a second laminating film that encapsulates the second set of PV cells; and a connecting mechanism that connects the first laminating film to the second laminating film. The connecting mechanism includes a chamber.

A panel connected body includes a plurality of flat panels arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, where m≥3 and n≥3; and a plurality of row-direction connection portions and column-direction connection portions which connect together panels that are adjacent in a row direction and column direction, respectively. A first type row satisfying relationships D.sub.1≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y−1−2L and a second type row satisfying relationships D.sub.n≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y+1+2L are alternately included, where D.sub.y is a length along the column direction of the column-direction connection portions in a y-th column, and L is a thickness of the panels. The relationship E≤W.sub.C−L is satisfied, where W.sub.C is a length along the column direction of the panels and E is a length along the column direction of the row-direction connection portions.

A panel connected body includes a plurality of flat panels arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, where m≥3 and n≥3; and a plurality of row-direction connection portions and column-direction connection portions which connect together panels that are adjacent in a row direction and column direction, respectively. A first type row satisfying relationships D.sub.1≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y−1−2L and a second type row satisfying relationships D.sub.n≥2L and D.sub.y≥D.sub.y+1+2L are alternately included, where D.sub.y is a length along the column direction of the column-direction connection portions in a y-th column, and L is a thickness of the panels. The relationship E≤W.sub.C−L is satisfied, where W.sub.C is a length along the column direction of the panels and E is a length along the column direction of the row-direction connection portions.

The invention relates to a method for inspecting a photovoltaic element (1), preferably in order to determine the output and/or in order to determine defects of the photovoltaic element (1), and to a photovoltaic element (1) which is inspected using such a method.

The invention relates to a method for inspecting a photovoltaic element (1), preferably in order to determine the output and/or in order to determine defects of the photovoltaic element (1), and to a photovoltaic element (1) which is inspected using such a method.

A solar array may include a first rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a first substrate. The solar array may further include a second rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a second substrate. The solar array may also include solar panel modules including solar cells secured to a flexible sheet of material. The solar panel modules may be coupled between the first composite solar panel and the second composite solar panel. The solar array may be configured to be retained in a stowed arrangement with the solar panel modules between the first rigid composite solar panel and the second rigid composite solar panel. The solar array further configured to be extended with an extendable arm until each of the first rigid composite solar panel, the second rigid composite solar panel and the solar panel modules are arranged in a substantially straight line.

A solar array may include a first rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a first substrate. The solar array may further include a second rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a second substrate. The solar array may also include solar panel modules including solar cells secured to a flexible sheet of material. The solar panel modules may be coupled between the first composite solar panel and the second composite solar panel. The solar array may be configured to be retained in a stowed arrangement with the solar panel modules between the first rigid composite solar panel and the second rigid composite solar panel. The solar array further configured to be extended with an extendable arm until each of the first rigid composite solar panel, the second rigid composite solar panel and the solar panel modules are arranged in a substantially straight line.

A portable solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generator module comprises a plurality of smart power slat (SPS) units, each SPS unit comprising a plurality of solar cells electrically connected together based on a specified cell interconnection design, and, N at least one power maximizing integrated circuit collecting electricity generated by the plurality of solar cells. The plurality of SPS units are mechanically connected such that the SPS units can be retracted for volume compaction of the module, and can be expanded for increasing PV electricity generation by the module. The module can be used as part of an electric power supply with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) power optimizer, storage battery and leads to connect to a load. The load can be AC or DC.

A portable solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generator module comprises a plurality of smart power slat (SPS) units, each SPS unit comprising a plurality of solar cells electrically connected together based on a specified cell interconnection design, and, N at least one power maximizing integrated circuit collecting electricity generated by the plurality of solar cells. The plurality of SPS units are mechanically connected such that the SPS units can be retracted for volume compaction of the module, and can be expanded for increasing PV electricity generation by the module. The module can be used as part of an electric power supply with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) power optimizer, storage battery and leads to connect to a load. The load can be AC or DC.