Cooling system for photovoltaic panel

A cooling system for a photovoltaic panel, comprising:

• a rectangular frame having a first edge and a second edge perpendicular to the first edge,
• a photovoltaic panel having a front surface, a back surface, the rectangular frame and at least one electrical junction box, wherein the photovoltaic panel is configured to generate electrical current from solar radiation impinging on the front surface;
• a plurality of thermoelectric generators having a first side and a second side, the first side attached to the back surface, wherein each thermoelectric generator is configured to generate electrical current when the first side is at a different temperature than the second side, wherein each thermoelectric generator has a rectangular shape with a short dimension and a long dimension disposed such that the long dimension is parallel with the first edge of the rectangular frame and the short dimension is parallel with the second edge of the rectangular frame;
• a plurality of micro flat heat pipes, wherein each micro flat heat pipe is attached to an entirety of the second side of at least one of the thermoelectric generators, each micro flat heat pipe having a hot end and a cold end;
• a plurality of heat sinks, each heat sink comprising a water reservoir;
• at least one air conditioner comprising an evaporator and a condensate drain;
• a water pumping unit comprising a fluid manifold in thermal contact with the hot ends of the plurality of micro flat heat pipes and a pump fluidly coupled to each water reservoir and the condensate drain;
• a battery;
• a plurality of spacers, each of the spacers being provided between each of the plurality of micro flat heat pipes and the back surface only in areas of the back surface not covered by one of the thermoelectric generators, the spacers being configured to provide thermal contact between the micro flat heat pipes and the back surface in areas not covered by one of the thermoelectric generators, the thermoelectric generators being configured to provide thermal contact between the micro flat heat pipes and the back surface in areas not covered by one of the spacers, and the spacers directly contacting the back surface, the micro flat heat pipes, and the thermoelectric generators;
• a controller operatively connected to the pump, the plurality of thermoelectric generators, the at least one electrical junction box and the battery, the controller comprising circuitry and at least one processor, the controller configured to:
• receive electrical current from the at least one electrical junction box and the plurality of thermoelectric generators;
• control a speed of the pump;
• and
• invert the electrical current to charge the battery.