Abstract: A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

Abstract: A battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, and the positive electrode includes a substituted barium titanate.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: Provided are a solar photovoltaic panel assembly and a vehicle including the solar photovoltaic panel assembly. The solar photovoltaic panel assembly includes: a support frame having a primary photovoltaic panel mounting layer and a secondary photovoltaic panel sliding layer that are laminated to each other; a primary photovoltaic panel mounted on the primary photovoltaic panel mounting layer; a secondary photovoltaic panel; and a driving member. The secondary photovoltaic panel is slidably movable along the secondary photovoltaic panel sliding layer to a storage position at which the secondary photovoltaic panel has a maximum overlapping area with the primary photovoltaic panel and an expansion position at which the secondary photovoltaic panel slidably moves outwards relative to the primary photovoltaic panel. The driving member is mounted on the support frame and configured to drive the secondary photovoltaic panel to slidably move along the secondary photovoltaic panel sliding layer.

Abstract: A multi-layer apparatus has a transparent or semi-transparent substrate, a solar-cell layer coupled to the substrate, an energy-storage layer coupled to the solar-cell layer, and a converter layer coupled to the energy-storage layer. The solar-cell layer has a plurality of solar cells for receiving light through the substrate and converting energy of the received light to a first electrical energy, the energy-storage layer has one or more energy-storage units for storing a second electrical energy, and the converter layer has one or more power converters electrically connected to the solar-cell layer and the energy-storage layer for receiving the first electrical energy and the second electrical energy therefrom and outputting a third electrical energy via an output thereof.

Abstract: A co-extrusion die is configured to produce a multilayer extrusion comprising component layers of an electrochemical cell. The die comprises a plurality of inlet ports configured to receive a plurality of pressurized fluids comprising at least a first metallic ink, a second metallic ink, and a polymeric ink. A plurality of channels are configured to separately transport and shape the plurality of fluids from the plurality of inlet ports to a merge section, such that the plurality of fluids flow together in the merge section to form the multilayer extrusion comprising a polymeric membrane layer disposed between and in contact with a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer. A thickness of each layer within the merge section is controllable by adjustment of a pressure of the plurality of pressurized fluids. An outlet port is configured to output the multilayer extrusion onto a substrate.

Abstract: A system for mounting a service component to a building structure has a plurality of elongate feet, and a plurality of connectors that each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component. Each foot is configured to affix to a surface of the building structure and then to resist disengagement from that surface. The connectors each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component, and secure the relative position of the respective foot and the service component. An elongate beam can be connected or connectable to the service component, such that in the installed system the beam is to be positioned to extend obliquely across the feet.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a solar support structures for columns of shingled photovoltaic solar panel assemblies.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides: a magnetoresistive element having a large magnetoresistance change ratio (MR ratio); and a magnetic sensor, a reproducing head and a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

Abstract: A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a polymer including a plurality of quantum dots; at least one first solar cell disposed on a lower portion of the polymer; and at least one second solar cell disposed on a side portion of the polymer; and a battery configured to be charged with electrical energy from at least one of the first solar battery or the second solar battery, wherein: the first solar battery, in a first wavelength band, has a conversion efficiency greater than or equal to a threshold value; the second solar battery, in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, has a conversion efficiency greater than or equal to the threshold value; and the wavelength of light that passes through the polymer may be within the first wavelength band, and the wavelength of light that is absorbed by at least some of the plurality of quantum dots and then remitted may be within the second wavelength bandwidth. Other various embodiments are possible.

Abstract: Intermediate temperature metallization pastes containing vanadium are disclosed. The metallization pastes can be used to fabricate electrodes interconnected to a transparent conductor.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Abstract: One embodiment is a photovoltaic (PV) module including a frame to receive a perimeter of a backside of a photovoltaic (PV) laminate. The cross rail assembly may include: a conductive frame to receive a perimeter of a backside of a photovoltaic (PV) laminate; one or more conductive cross rail members provide structural rigidity to the conductive frame; and one or more pairs of couplers coupled to the conductive frame, wherein: at least one coupler comprises a grounding coupler having a first keyed section to insert into an opening in the conductive frame and a second keyed section to mate with an end of a conductive cross rail member of the one or more conductive cross rail members to ground the conductive cross rail member to the frame; or at least one coupler of at least one of the one or more pairs includes a length to define a cabling channel.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating solar cells having a plurality of sub-cells coupled by cell level interconnection, and the resulting solar cells, are described herein. In an example, a solar cell includes a plurality of sub-cells. Each of the plurality of sub-cells includes a singulated and physically separated semiconductor substrate portion. Each of the plurality of sub-cells includes an on-sub-cell metallization structure interconnecting emitter regions of the sub-cell. An inter-sub-cell metallization structure couples adjacent ones of the plurality of sub-cells. The inter-sub-cell metallization structure is different in composition from the on-sub-cell metallization structure.

Abstract: A system including a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with the rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to store a plurality of positional and solar tracking information, determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, calculate a first angle for the tracker based on the position of the sun, detect an amount of accumulation at the first specific point in time, determine a first maximum range of motion for the tracker based on the amount of accumulation, adjust the first angle for the tracker based on the first maximum range of motion for the tracker, and transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first adjusted angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positive electrode of a crystalline silicon solar cell with a break-proof grid function, comprising a positive electrode busbar (1), a positive electrode grid (2), and a break-proof grid structure (3). The break-proof grid structure (3) and the positive electrode grid (2) are integrally printed and formed. The break-proof grid structure (3) is an octagon with a hollow-out groove (4) provided on its rear side. The break-proof grid structure (3) includes a rectangular grid segment (31) located in the middle, and two isosceles trapezoidal grid segments (32) that are located at both sides of the rectangular grid segment (31) and are provided symmetrically with the rectangular grid segment (31) as a center. The rectangular grid segment (31) spans the positive electrode busbar (1), and the left and right ends of the rectangular grid segment (31) extend out of the positive electrode busbar (1). The extended grid segment is a rectangular extensional break-proof grid segment (311).

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) cells that can be interconnected with improved interconnect joints to form PV cell strings and PV modules. The improved interconnect joints comprise at least two types of adhesive bonding regions to maximize both electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of interconnect joints coupling terminals of PV cells. The disclosed approaches to PV cell interconnection provide greater manufacturing rates and higher quality PV cell strings and PV modules.