Imagine the situation, your PV panel or wind turbine is putting out 3,5, - 9, 10 volts and is not being used to charge the battery or run a grid tie inverter, is there a way to step up the power to a useful level.
a) the low wattage could be used to heat a water tank and extract the energy that way, but is any one working on the switching mechanisms to enable that?
b) The low voltage could be used to charge a series of 3v or 6v batteries, these batteries would be charged progressively and/or in turn and then switched to combine to make a 12 - 15v battery and then drive the inverter or grid tie? This would also be usefull with systems such as earth batteries, aerial collectors or any low volt systems? Again the problem is switching techniques?
c) are there any other ways to collect low wattage energy sources and/or store the power, multiply the power?
Yes you can do this.
Inverters.
Step up Inverters.
But only usefully IF YOU ARE sure ,
the enoug Power (Amperage) is behind you low Voltage.
Use an bulb ( 12v 50-60 watts from car) to test them out first...
GP