Photovoltaic systems

Abstract

This invention relates to photovoltaic (PV) unit adapted to provide wireless power transfer output comprising one or more photovoltaic cells that generate electrical output, and at least one wireless power transfer transmitter coupled to transfer the electrical output via wireless power transfer. Such a PV unit can be provided in combination with a roofing, cladding or siding module. Such a module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface; and an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface.

1 . A photovoltaic unit adapted to provide wireless power transfer output comprising:
 one or more photovoltaic cells that generate electrical output, at least one wireless power transfer transmitter coupled to transfer the electrical output via wireless power transfer.   
     
     
         2 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  wherein the photovoltaic unit is for installation on a roof or a substrate panel to serve as a roofing product. 
     
     
         3 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  wherein the electrical output is transferred via wireless power transfer to a load and/or output conductor. 
     
     
         4 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  wherein the wireless power transfer is via capacitive coupling whereby the wireless power transfer transmitter forms a capacitor with a wireless power transfer receiver coupled to (or for coupling to) the load and/or output conductor. 
     
     
         5 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 4  wherein the wireless power transfer transmitter comprises a capacitor plate. 
     
     
         6 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 5  wherein the capacitor plate has surface texturing. 
     
     
         7 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 6  wherein the surface texturing is nanoscopic and/or microscopic surface texturing. 
     
     
         8 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  wherein there are two or more photovoltaic cells coupled together to generate the electrical output, wherein the photovoltaic cells are coupled together using wireless power transfer. 
     
     
         9 . Two or more photovoltaic units coupled together to generate electrical output, each according to  claim 1  wherein the photovoltaic cells are coupled together using wireless power transfer. 
     
     
         10 . A roof or roofing component comprising a photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A roof or roofing component according to  claim 10  further comprising at least one wireless power transfer receiver coupled to (or for coupling to) a load or output conductor for receiving electrical output from the wireless power transfer transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . A roof or roofing component according to  claim 10  or  11  wherein the wireless power transfer is via capacitive coupling whereby the wireless power transfer transmitter forms a capacitor with the wireless power transfer receiver coupled to (or for coupling to) the load and/or output conductor. 
     
     
         13 . A roof or roofing component according to  claim 10  or  11  wherein the wireless power transfer transmitter comprises a capacitor plate. 
     
     
         14 . A roof or roofing component according to  claim 13  wherein the capacitor plate has surface texturing. 
     
     
         15 . A roof or roofing component according to  claim 14  wherein the surface texturing is nanoscopic and/or microscopic surface texturing. 
     
     
         16 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  for installation on a roofing, cladding, or siding module comprising:
 an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface; and 
 an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface. 
 
     
     
         17 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  for installation on a roofing, cladding, or siding module comprising a plurality of formed surfaces moulded from one or more polymeric materials, wherein each of the formed surfaces comprise three dimensional surface features, and wherein the formed surfaces are joined without weld lines or injection moulding points. 
     
     
         18 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  for installation a roofing, cladding, or siding assembly comprising a plurality of partially-overlapping modules that substantially covers a building surface, wherein each module comprises:
 an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface and the exposed region is adapted to be substantially exposed when installed on a building surface; 
 an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface. 
 
     
     
         19 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  for installation on a system for removing or recovering thermal energy from a building surface, the system comprising:
 a building surface; 
 a roofing, cladding, or siding assembly comprising a plurality of partially-overlapping modules that substantially covers the building surface, wherein each module comprises 
 an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface and the exposed region is adapted to be substantially exposed when installed on a building surface; 
 an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface; and 
 a fan adapted to induce the air flow. 
 
     
     
         20 . A photovoltaic unit according to  claim 1  for installation on a system for generating electricity and recovering or removing thermal energy from a building surface, the system comprising
 a building surface; 
 a roofing, cladding, or siding assembly comprising a plurality of partially-overlapping modules that substantially covers the building surface, wherein each module comprises 
 an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface; and 
 an outer surface and an under surface, wherein the under surface of the underlapping region is profiled to define a pathway for air flow between the module and the building surface, and wherein the outer surface of the exposed region comprises one or more photovoltaic