Phase change materials for cooling enclosed electronic components, including for solar energy collection, and associated systems and methods

A solar energy collection system, comprising:

• an enclosed solar collection structure having a light-transmissive surface;
• a plurality of solar concentrators positioned within the enclosed solar collection structure to receive solar radiation passing into the solar collection structure;
• at least one receiver positioned to receive solar radiation from at least one of the plurality of solar concentrators;
• an electronics enclosure positioned within the solar collection structure;
• an electronic component positioned at least partially within the electronics enclosure;
• a phase change material within the solar collection structure, wherein the phase change material is spaced apart from the electronic component, and wherein the phase change material has a melting point below a target temperature of the electronic component;
• an airflow path positioned between the phase change material and the electronic component;
• an actuatable component in fluid communication with the airflow path and changeable to regulate a flow of air along the airflow path;
• and
• a controller coupled to the actuatable component to adjust the actuatable component between a first configuration with the actuatable component allowing a first flow of air to pass along the airflow path, and a second configuration with the actuatable component allowing no airflow or a second flow of air less than the first flow of air to pass along the airflow path.