Solar energy capture, energy conversion and energy storage system

A solar energy capture, energy conversion and energy storage system, comprising:

• a mounting structure which supports an embedded conduit which in use receives a working fluid which includes at least one hydro-fluoro-ether;
• first and second valves are operative to open/close first and/or second ports in at least one fluid pathway leading from the conduit to an electricity generating system and/or to an energy storage system, the working fluid in the generating system passes through a heat exchanger in order to transfer its heat to drive a generator (dynamo);
• the energy storage system includes:
• a sealed vessel for containing a phase change material (PCM), which in use receives and stores heat energy, and
• a continuous fluid pathway leads from a vessel inlet to a vessel outlet, the continuous fluid pathway is arranged in a form of a plurality of substantially parallel sections of the fluid pathway, at an end of each of the parallel sections of the fluid pathway there is a U-shaped return which returns the working fluid along an adjacent one of the parallel sections of the fluid pathway so that, in use, the working fluid passing along the continuous fluid pathway transfers its heat energy to the PCM;
• and
• an energy management system controls operation of the first and second valves so as to selectively generate electricity or to store heat, the energy management system including a processor adapted to sense a level of incident solar energy and a level of electricity being generated, so that an amount of energy that is stored is in dependence on available energy and/or expected demand of energy, and to receive inputs from at least:
• a local thermometer;
• a user energy request which indicates how much electrical energy is required;
• and a means which indicates a level of energy stored.