Solar battery module and passive solar system using same

A roof member comprising:

• a. a roof panel formed of steel which is bent;
• b. a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of non-single crystal semiconductor elements on the upper surface of said roof panel, wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements are arranged to receive sunlight;
• and
• c. an insulating member between said roof panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, wherein said insulating member occupies an area larger than the area occupied by said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and whose end portion is located between the bent portion of said roof panel and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements.

A solar cell member comprising:

• a. a steel panel having a bend line;
• b. photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the upper surface of said steel panel, wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements are arranged to receive sunlight;
• and
• c. an insulating member between said steel panel and the non-light-receiving side of the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, wherein said insulating member occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single crystal semiconductor elements, and whose end portion is located between said bend line and the edge of said non-single crystal semiconductor elements.

A method of manufacturing a roof member, comprising:

• a. preparing a roof panel formed of steel, having a bend line;
• b. placing a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said roof panel so that the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements can receive sunlight;
• and
• c. placing an insulating member between said roof panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, wherein the insulating member occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and positioning the insulating member so that the end portions thereof are between said bend line and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements.

A method of manufacturing a roof member comprising:

• a. preparing a roof panel formed of steel;
• b. bending said steel panel along a bend line;
• c. placing a photovoltaic array having a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said roof panel so that the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements can receive sunlight;
• and
• d. placing an insulating member between said steel panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, wherein the insulating member occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and positioning the insulating member such that its end portions are arranged between said bend line and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements.

A method of manufacturing a solar cell member, comprising:

• a. preparing a panel formed of steel, having a bend line;
• b. placing a photovoltaic array having a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said panel so that the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements can receive sunlight;
• and
• c. placing an insulating member between said panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, wherein the insulating member occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and positioning the insulating member so that the end portions thereof are between said bend line and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements.

A passive solar apparatus having a solar cell member and a thermal conversion member for converting sunlight into electricity and heat, wherein said solar cell member comprises:

• a. a bent steel panel;
• b. a photovoltaic array having a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said steel panel, said elements are arranged to receive the sunlight;
• and
• c. an insulating member between said steel panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, which occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single crystal semiconductor elements, and whose end portion is positioned between said bend line and said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements.

A method of installing a passive solar apparatus on a roof, comprising preparing a passive solar apparatus having a thermal conversion member for converting sunlight into heat and a solar cell member for converting sunlight into electricity, comprising:

• a) a steel panel having a bent portion and an end portion;
• b) a photovoltaic array having a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said steel panel, which are arranged to receive the sunlight;
• and c) an insulating member between said steel panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, which occupies an area larger than the area occupied by the non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and whose end portions are arranged between said bent portion and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements,
• further comprising fixing the passive solar apparatus to the roof through a portion of the steel panel which is between the bent portion and the end portion of the steel panel.

A method of installing a solar cell member on a roof, characterized by preparing a solar cell member having:

• a) a steel panel having a bent portion and an end portion;
• b) a photovoltaic array having a plurality of non-single-crystal semiconductor elements on the outer surface of said steel panel, which are arranged to receive sunlight;
• and c) an insulating member between said steel panel and the non-light-receiving side of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, which occupies an area larger than the area occupied by said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements, and whose end portions are arranged between said bent portion and the edge of said non-single-crystal semiconductor elements,
• and further comprising fixing the solar cell member to a roof through a portion of the steel panel which is between the bent portion and the end portion of the steel panel.