Highly efficient solar arrays

A solar energy system comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic modules;
• a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules;
• a racking assembly comprising a plurality or rails mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system;
• and
• a rainwater collection subsystem;
• wherein:
• the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors;
• the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps;
• the photovoltaic modules and reflectors are positioned such that top surfaces thereof are at one or more angles relative to horizontal;
• and
• the rainwater collection subsystem comprises:
• an extruded drip gutter extending from a bottom edge of each photovoltaic module and of each reflector, the extruded drip gutter configured to collect rainwater that runs down the surface of the corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector and to channel the collected rainwater towards one or both ends of the extruded drip gutter, one or both ends of the extruded drip gutter being open to expel the collected rainwater therefrom;
• edge extensions extending upwards from a base of each rail to define rail channels on opposing sides of each rail, the rail channels being positioned beneath ends of the extruded drip gutters such that expelled rainwater is captured in the rail channels;
• and
• one or more storage reservoirs in fluid communication with the rail channels, the one or more storage reservoirs being configured to receive and store the rainwater captured by the rail channels.

A solar energy system comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic modules;
• a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules;
• and
• a racking assembly mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system;
• wherein:
• the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors;
• the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps;
• each of the photovoltaic modules and reflectors includes a frame;
• each frame comprises two side members positioned on opposing sides of a corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector;
• each side member for each reflector frame has a double-wall-box construction including an inner box aligned lengthwise side-by-side with an outer box along at least most of the length of each side member, one side of each box being a common wall shared between the inner and outer boxes;
• each side member for each module frame has a single-wall-box construction;
• each side member has a length greater than a length of the corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector and is arranged such that top and bottom ends of each side member respectively extend beyond upper and lower edges of a corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector;
• the outer wall box is absent from the top end of each side member in each reflector frame;
• and
• the top end of each of two side members in a frame of each photovoltaic module is removably coupled to the top end of each of two side members in a frame of a corresponding reflector positioned behind the photovoltaic module.