Importance

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Abstract

The energy crisis that has long been accepted in the scientific community is being embraced by society along with an increasing sense of environmental responsibility. Solar will be a large part of the renewable energy revolution. Solar harnessing technology has primarily focused on solar farms or on off-grid, residential use and mostly on warm, dry climates that have high percentages of clear sky. Cooler, wetter climates have seen less research and resources dedicated to solutions and indeed have a different set of requirements than for traditional desert solar farms. This invention provides a simple tracking solar solution that combines both concentrated photovoltaic CPV and traditional photovoltaic (PV), although the solution can use only CPV or PV. The invention reduces the structural and drive demands by shielding the solar collecting mechanisms inside an enclosure and then connecting the collecting mechanisms in synchronous arrays. By shielding the collecting mechanisms from moisture and wind, the drive and support mechanisms can be very simple and inexpensive. The use of both CPV and PV increases the efficiency, particularly in cooler climates.

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First Claim