Foldable photovoltaic assembly for a portable solar energy system

A photovoltaic assembly for a portable solar energy system, the photovoltaic assembly comprising:

• a row of interconnected photovoltaic laminates, each photovoltaic laminate comprising a pair of longitudinal and a pair of transverse side edges and defining an internal and an external major surface;
• a foldable stiffening and/or supporting structure comprising articulated members, the foldable stiffening and/or supporting structure being movable between a folded position and an operative position;
• wherein the stiffening and/or supporting structure further comprises at least two support elements, each support element being attached at least to the internal major surfaces, and the longitudinal side edges of adjacent photovoltaic laminates of the row of interconnected photovoltaic laminates, each support element having a closed cross-section and comprising a first lateral face perpendicular to the internal major surface of the respective adjacent photovoltaic laminates of the row of interconnected photovoltaic laminates;
• and wherein one or more articulated members of the foldable stiffening and/or supporting structure are connected in an articulated manner to the first lateral face of a respective support element of the at least two support elements;
• wherein a respective support element of the at least two support elements is attached to the internal and to the external major surface of two adjacent ones of the photovoltaic laminates of the row of interconnected photovoltaic laminates;
• and
• wherein a respective support element of the at least two support elements comprises on its upper side at least one clamping unit for clamping side edges of adjacent photovoltaic laminates of the row of interconnected photovoltaic laminates.