Solar panels and harvesting of solar derived energy

A hybrid solar air photovoltaic thermal (PVT) apparatus that is configured to generate an electrical output and a heated thermal output from incident solar radiation during daytime and a cooling thermal output during night-time, the PVT apparatus including:

• a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells, the photovoltaic cells being configured to generate the electric output from the incident solar radiation,
• a heat transfer apparatus including:
• at least one first air passage configured to enable air to flow into the PVT apparatus from an inlet of the PVT apparatus;
• at least one second air passage configured to enable air to flow out of the PVT apparatus through an outlet of the PVT apparatus;
• and
• an air flow modification configured to direct air flowing from the at least one first air passage towards an underside surface of the solar PV panel, thereby enabling the transfer of heat to or from the solar PV panel, the air flow modification including:
• an array of jets, air nozzles or orifices provided in a flow path between the inlet of the PVT apparatus and the underside surface of the solar PV panel, wherein the jets, air nozzles or orifices are configured to direct air flowing from the inlet towards the underside surface of the solar PV panel;
• and
• a drain configured to enable the evacuation of the air directed towards the underside surface of the solar PV panel by the array of jets, air nozzles or orifices, away from the solar PV panel, to the outlet of the PVT apparatus;
• wherein:
• a portion of the drain is disposed between two or more jets, air nozzles or orifices of the array of jets, air nozzles or orifices;
• the at least one first air passage and/or the at least one second air passage includes multiple air passages, chambers or plenums through which supply air flows during use;
• and
• the multiple air passages, chambers or plenums are arranged in series such that air flows from one to the other, or are arranged in parallel such that air flow is shared/split through the air passages, chambers or plenums.