Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate, a back contact layer disposed above the substrate, and an absorber layer disposed above the back contact layer. The absorber layer includes at least two regions at respectively different horizontally locations. Each respective region has a respectively different concentration profile of an ingredient at a respective depth of the absorber layer.

Abstract: A light converter for the photovoltaic conversion of light, having a support, a first semiconductor body, and a second semiconductor body. A first surface and a second surface are designed as receiving surfaces for light. An electrically conductive connector having a first arm and a second arm is provided, and the first arm is arranged on the first surface and interconnected with the first surface, and the second arm is arranged below the second rear surface and interconnected with the second rear surface. The second arm is at least partially embedded in a conductive material, the conductive material being arranged between the second rear surface and a second conductive track, and the second conductive track is formed as part of the support.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a photovoltaic thermal hybrid system having a hybrid solar receiver with a photovoltaic module, operatively coupled to the system to deliver an electrical output power for a power user, a thermal collector distinct from the photovoltaic module, wherein the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector are movably mounted in the system, a collector thermal storage thermally connected to the thermal collector to store heat collected at the thermal collector, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector. The method includes instructing the positioning mechanism to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector to change a ratio of an intensity of radiation received at the photovoltaic module to an intensity of radiation received at the thermal collector.

Abstract: A solar cell element includes a semiconductor substrate which includes a first semiconductor region positioned on a first main surface and a second semiconductor region in a surface layer portion of a second main surface, and an electrode in line shape disposed on the second main surface. The second semiconductor region includes a first concentration region being separated from the electrode by a predetermined distance in plan view, and a second concentration region including a high concentration region where a dopant concentration is higher than that in the first concentration region and exists along a longitudinal direction of the electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for electric power generation. A system includes a boiler for heating a fluid, the boiler directing a first portion of the heated fluid to a turbine for the generation of electric power and a second portion of the heated fluid to a thermoelectric (TE) generator, and a condenser connected to the turbine that condenses hot fluid emitted from the turbine and feeds the condensed fluid to the TE generator, the TE generator generating electric power from a difference in temperature of the second portion of the heated fluid and the condensed fluid from the turbine.

Abstract: Disclosed are a solar cell module and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell module according to the embodiment includes first solar cells including a first P-type semiconductor layer, a first buffer layer, and a first N-type semiconductor layer sequentially disposed on a support substrate; second solar cells including a second N-type semiconductor layer, a second buffer layer, and a second N-type semiconductor layer sequentially disposed on the support substrate; and a connecting electrode connecting the first solar cells to the second solar cells.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a photoanode that includes a solid semiconductor layer containing a dye molecule, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte medium disposed between the photoanode and the counter electrode. The dye molecule includes XD represented by chemical formula (1) and YA represented by chemical formula (2) in a molecule: R(XD/YA), which is a ratio of the number of XD to the number of YA in the dye molecule, is 2 or more.

Abstract: An organic photoelectric device may include an anode and a cathode facing each other and the active layer between the anode and cathode, wherein the active layer includes a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a compound represented by Chemical Formula 2. Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2 are the same as in the detailed description.

Abstract: Photovoltaic thin-film materials comprising crystalline tin sulfide alloys of the general formula Sn1-x(R)xS, where R is selected from magnesium, calcium and strontium, as well as methods of producing the same, are disclosed.

Abstract: A solar cell module is provided with a plurality of solar cells and a wiring material. Each solar cell includes a p-side electrode and an n-side electrode arranged on one principal surface thereof. For each pair of adjacent solar cells, the wiring material electrically connects the p-side electrode of one solar cell and the n-side electrode of the other solar cell. Surface layers of the p-side electrodes and the n-side electrodes comprises, respectively, plating layers each containing at least one power-supplied point. The wiring material is bonded to the solar cells at regions each of which at least includes the power-supplied point.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate, an emitter region positioned at a first surface of the substrate, a first electrode positioned on the first surface of the substrate, a back passivation layer positioned on a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate, and a second electrode which is positioned on the back passivation layer and is electrically connected to the substrate through holes of the back passivation layer. The second electrode includes connection electrodes positioned inside the holes of the back passivation layer and a back electrode layer positioned on the connection electrodes and the back passivation layer. An adhesion enhanced layer is positioned between the back electrode layer and the back passivation layer and contains at least one of intrinsic amorphous silicon and intrinsic microcrystalline silicon.

Abstract: A power generating bearing assembly (100) comprises a bearing subassembly (120) retained by a bearing housing (110). During operation, friction and other factors increase a temperature of the bearing assembly (100). The housing (110) can optionally include a bearing cooling passage system comprising at least one liquid cooling passage (134) formed internally therein. The liquid cooling passage (134) would be routed proximate the bearing subassembly (120) to remove heat therefrom. A thermal energy transfer media (204) is inserted into a thermal transfer conduit (180), wherein the thermal transfer conduit (180) passes across a heated section of the housing (110). The transfer media (204) conveys the thermal energy to a Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) (200) located in a thermoelectric generator housing (250) attached to the bearing housing (110). The Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) (200) utilizes a temperature difference between the transfer media (204) and the ambient air to generated electric power.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system can include support devices made with bearings. Such bearings can include an inner partially toroidal surface for sliding contact and support of an outer surface of a torque tube. The toroidal surface can be made with a single radius of curvature or multiple radiuses of curvature and cylindrical portions. The bearings can include connectors for connecting the bearing members to a support housing. The connectors can be tool-less connectors.

Abstract: Solar cells exhibiting improved conversion efficiency are disclosed. Particularly, multi-pn junction solar cells that contain a current spreading layer as well as concentrating photovoltaic modules that include such a solar cell and light concentrating optics are disclosed. The multi-pn junctions in question may generally be made up of III-V semiconductor materials, while the current spreading layer may generally be made up of II-VI semiconductor materials.

Abstract: Cartridge-based thermoelectric assemblies and systems are provided which include at least one shunt configured to extend around a conduit, a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication and in electrical communication with the at least one shunt with at least a portion of the at least one shunt sandwiched between the at least one first thermoelectric element and the at least one second thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric elements are electrically isolated from the conduit. The thermoelectric assemblies and systems further include at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with the at least one shunt and configured to be in thermal communication with a second fluid.

Abstract: An electromagnetic energy concentrator uses a prism and waveguide with a gap layer of uniform thickness disposed between the prism and a first surface of waveguide. Energy detectors, which may be photovoltaics or miniaturized antenna elements are disposed adjacent to and co-extensive with a second surface of the waveguide. The detectors operate in each of at least two bands; a distance between detectors operating in a given band depends on a wavelength in the given band.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backsides of the solar cells. The solar cell module includes an electrical insulator between the transparent cover and the front sides of the solar cells. An encapsulant protectively packages the solar cells. To prevent polarization, the insulator has resistance suitable to prevent charge from leaking from the front sides of the solar cells to other portions of the solar cell module by way of the transparent cover. The insulator may be attached (e.g., by coating) directly on an underside of the transparent cover or be a separate layer formed between layers of the encapsulant. The solar cells may be back junction solar cells.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion material, which acts as an electron donor for donating an electron or an electron acceptor for accepting an electron, contains a polymer having at least one structural unit selected from graphenes represented by the following general formulae (1) to (4): wherein at least one of R1 to R6 in each of the general formulae (1) to (4) is a solubilizing group, and the polymer exhibits a higher solubility in an organic solvent with the solubilizing group than without the solubilizing group.

Abstract: A CIS-based thin film solar cell has a backside electrode layer that is divided by a pattern (P1), and a CIS-based light absorption layer, and a transparent conductive film are sequentially formed on a substrate. The backside electrode layer comprises an intermediate layer on the surface that is in contact with the CIS-based light absorption layer, the intermediate layer being composed of a compound of a metal that constitutes the backside electrode layer and a group VI element that constitutes the CIS-based light absorption layer; the intermediate layer comprises a first intermediate layer portion which is formed on the upper surface and a second intermediate layer portion which is formed on the lateral surface that and faces the pattern (P1); and the film thickness of the second intermediate layer portion is larger than the film thickness of the first intermediate layer portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar panel that is cooled without using power, and more particularly, to a solar panel which is cooled without using power and which is naturally cooled by means of ascending air heated in a passage provided in a cooling plate so as to maintain the temperature of the solar panel suitable for the efficient generation of power without requiring a separate power source. For this purpose, the solar panel of the present invention includes: a cell panel including solar cells for converting solar energy into electric energy; and a cooling plate directly or indirectly contacting the back surface of the cell panel so as to transfer heat, the cooling plate having a cooling-air passage which is formed so as to extend vertically within the cooling plate, and the upper and lower ends of which are in contact with the outside air.