Noria Energy

Alex Mayer

James Raiford

Jason King

Becca Suchower

Brian Edward Atchley

Ralf Schulze

Leslie Arciniega

A cable management system for one or more floating solar PV arrays including a cable tensioning system that adjusts the length of, or maintains the tension in, a power or communication cable that runs from shore to the floating solar array, or between floating solar arrays while permitting the floating solar array(s) to move on the water. The cable tensioning system optionally includes a winch, a counterweight, an elastic member and/or one or more floating towers.

Cable management systems for connecting power and communication cables from floating solar arrays to onshore equipment

A system for controlling the position and orientation of a floating solar array, having: (a) a floating solar array; (b) a plurality of retractable, bi-directional thrusters mounted to the floating solar array and extending below the floating solar array; (c) a control system on the floating solar array for controlling power level of each of the plurality of thrusters, and (d) a power cable connecting the floating solar array to an onshore grid by way of a power cable connector at a bottom central location on the floating solar array. Submerged baffles, perimeter floats and a method of stowing the floating solar array in high winds by rotating the floating solar array into a direction perpendicular to the direction of the high winds are also included.

Floating solar photovoltaic array with on-board energy management system for controlling and powering inflatable support pontoons, water quality, air compression and mooring devices

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float for use with a floating solar PV array, including: a float formed from a flexible membrane; and an expansion structure that is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air. The expansion structure may be an expandable structure that is positioned within the float, or around an exterior surface of the float and increases in size when deployed.

Flat-pack membrane based solar PV array floats having deployable expansion structures that inflate the floats without forced air preliminary class

A floating solar array having a grid of structural members with openings therebetween and supporting pontoons underneath. One or more floating solar PV modules are positioned in each of the openings and elastic connectors are used to isolate these floating solar PV modules from the movement of the structural member grid. A first end of each of the elastic connectors are connected to the structural members or to one of the grid supporting pontoons, while a second end of each elastic connector is connected either to a PV module supporting pontoon or to the PV module mounted thereon. Together, these elastic connectors allow for limited linear and torsional movement of each of the floating solar PV modules with respect to the structural member grid.

Structural support grid for floating solar array

A floating solar photovoltaic array having an energy management power control system configured to send power clipped by an inverter to the at least one powered accessory device which can be an aerator, a diffuser, a sub-surface agitator, a sub-surface water circulator, a sub-surface positioning/mooring system, a water quality sensor; a panel washer, or a bird removal system. The array has inflatable pontoons and an air manifold system which is powered by the solar photovoltaic modules can be used to adjust the angle of inclination of the solar photovoltaic modules to the sun. The powered accessories can also be powered by unclipped power or on-shore power or combinations thereof which can be controllably adjusted by the energy management control system over time.

Growing community of inventors

Mill Valley, CA, United States of America

Alex Mayer