Renewable energy source including an energy conversion structure and a bearing component

A power generation structure for generating power from a renewable energy source comprising:

• a base;
• a solar panel connected to the base at an articulating joint configured to allow movement of the solar panel relative to the base, wherein the articulating joint includes a bushing having a body, the body having a cylindrical shape around an axis with an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is closer to the axis, the body further made of a composite material having a laminated construction comprising
• a rigid material,
• a friction-reducing material overlying the rigid material, the friction-reducing material forming the inner surface,
• an intermediate material disposed between the rigid material and the friction-reducing material, and
• a corrosion resistant coating overlying the rigid material, wherein the corrosion resistant coating overlies the rigid material opposite the friction-reducing material, wherein the corrosion resistant coating overlies all of the rigid material except for portions covered by the friction-reducing material,
• wherein the rigid material comprises a material selected from aluminum or stainless steel, wherein the intermediate material comprises at least one functionalized thermoplastic polymer polymer, wherein the at least one functionalized thermoplastic polymer includes an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), perfluoroalkoxy ethylene (PFA), or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) copolymer (MFA), the functionalized thermoplastic polymer further having functional groups of the formula
• —COOH, or —COOR, where the radicals R are cyclic or linear organic radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and wherein the friction-reducing material comprises a fluoropolymer and a material selected from the group of materials consisting of graphite, or glass.

A power generation structure for generating power from a renewable energy source comprising:

• an energy conversion structure comprising an articulating joint configured to move at least a portion of the energy conversion structure;
• and
• a bearing member connected to the articulating joint, the bearing member having a body, the body having a cylindrical shape around an axis with an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is closer to the axis, the body further including a composite material having a laminated construction comprising
• a rigid material, the rigid material forming the outer surface,
• a friction-reducing material overlying the rigid material, the friction-reducing material forming the inner surface, the friction-reducing material including a fluoropolymer,
• an intermediate material disposed between the rigid material and the friction-reducing material, wherein the intermediate material comprises at least one functionalized thermoplastic polymer, wherein the at least one functionalized thermoplastic polymer includes an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), perfluoroalkoxy ethylene (PFA), or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) copolymer (MFA), and
• a corrosion resistant coating overlying the rigid material, wherein the corrosion resistant coating overlies the rigid material opposite the friction-reducing material, wherein the corrosion resistant coating overlies all of the rigid material except for portions covered by the friction-reducing material,
• wherein the friction reducing material is free of observable defects after salt spray testing for at least 150 hours according to standard corrosion test ISO 9227:2006.