Abstract: Compositions and methods for constructing a photovoltaic (PV) module bound by multiple layers of encapsulant as well as a custom lamination protocol. Various embodiments described herein include a PV apparatus comprising transparent polycarbonate (PC) plates containing a silicon solar power cell bound with a novel multilayer encapsulation polymers encompassing each side of the solar power cell, where the multilayer encapsulation polymers are in contact with the PC plate surface and the solar power cell surface. The multilayer encapsulant comprises an encapsulation polymer first layer and a second layer, where the first layer is a first thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer that is in contact with a second layer comprising an additional encapsulation polymer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic assembly including at least one fishbone support, at least one solar photovoltaic (PV) panel adhered to the at least one fishbone support and at least one additional support selected from the group consisting of a horizontal support configured to support the at least one fishbone support and attached to the backbone, wherein the horizontal support comprises a profiled slot, a vertical support attached to the plurality of cross arms, and combinations thereof. The at least one fishbone support includes a backbone and a plurality of cross arms attached to and arranged perpendicular to the backbone. a method for shipping photovoltaic including providing a photovoltaic assembly including at least one fishbone support adhered to a backside of at least one solar PV panel as a first layer and stacking additional photovoltaic assemblies along raised portions to generate subsequent layers of photovoltaic assemblies.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes one or more PV modules, the one or more PV modules including a PV layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The PV modules also include a conductive layer coupled to the second side of the PV layer, the conductive layer further including a positive bus line and a negative bus line extending in a first direction. The conductive layer further includes a vertical bus line extending substantially orthogonally to the first direction and is operable to electrically couple to the positive and negative bus lines. The one or more PV modules can be electrically coupled to other PV modules in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a solar panel, a drive shaft operatively coupled to the solar panel, a sensor to sense a power output from the solar panel, and a controller programmed to receive the power output, conduct a first comparison between the power output and a power output threshold, rotate the drive shaft based on the first comparison, conduct a second comparison between the power output and the power output threshold, and cease rotation of the drive shaft based on the second comparison. Rotating the drive shaft feeds an amount of film from a source roll of film over a face of the solar panel and feeds an amount of film from a cover portion of film extending from the source roll of film around the drive shaft.