Methods and apparatuses to support photovoltaic (“PV”) modules are described. A saddle bracket has a mounting surface to support one or more PV modules over a tube, a gusset coupled to the mounting surface, and a mounting feature coupled to the gusset to couple to the tube. A grounding washer has a first portion to couple to a support; and a second portion coupled to the first portion to provide a ground path to a PV module. A PV system has a saddle bracket; a PV module over the saddle bracket; and a grounding washer coupled to the saddle bracket and the PV module. Saddle brackets can be coupled to a torque tube at predetermined locations. PV modules can be coupled to the saddle brackets.

A floating cover sheet of a liquid reservoir is configured to rest on the liquid surface and includes a plurality of elongated sheet panels each defining edges and a lower region. The sheet panels are connected to one another and each of the sheet panels has a buoyant carrier sheet disposed in the lower region thereof. The buoyant carrier sheet is made of plastic and defines a carrier surface. A plurality of panel-shaped solar modules are applied to corresponding ones of the carrier surfaces of the carrier sheets. The solar module has a width less than the width of the corresponding sheet panel so as to define, on each sheet panel, a strip of carrier material free of the solar module corresponding thereto and configured to be walked on and to be slip resistant.

A floating cover sheet of a liquid reservoir is configured to rest on the liquid surface and includes a plurality of elongated sheet panels each defining edges and a lower region. The sheet panels are connected to one another and each of the sheet panels has a buoyant carrier sheet disposed in the lower region thereof. The buoyant carrier sheet is made of plastic and defines a carrier surface. A plurality of panel-shaped solar modules are applied to corresponding ones of the carrier surfaces of the carrier sheets. The solar module has a width less than the width of the corresponding sheet panel so as to define, on each sheet panel, a strip of carrier material free of the solar module corresponding thereto and configured to be walked on and to be slip resistant.

Solar panel grounding lug assemblies and systems are disclosed. The grounding lugs may include a top member having a grounding wire channel and an aperture, a bottom member having an aperture, and a fastener inserted through the apertures. The fastener may couple the top member to the bottom member and secure a grounding wire within the grounding wire channel.

A photovoltaic panel support and system comprising a cross-linked closed cell foam structure and one or more photovoltaic panels is coupled to the cross-linked closed cell foam structure, is disclosed.

A photovoltaic panel support and system comprising a cross-linked closed cell foam structure and one or more photovoltaic panels is coupled to the cross-linked closed cell foam structure, is disclosed.

A thin support structure for solar collectors is provided. The support structure includes service lines, such as fluid lines and electrical signal lines, disposed within an interior cavity of the support structure. The movement and flexing of the service lines is accounted for by a pulley assembly having a rotating element, without the need for complex and expensive swivel joints and slip rings.

A solar power system (11) which comprises a plurality of solar energy collecting means (10,10a,10b,10c) respectively comprising a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) floating on liquid in a liquid reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), each platform assembly carrying solar energy concentrators or collectors and respective reservoirs (14,14a,14b,14c), being interconnected in series and arranged in a cascading relationship such that the flooding of a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) in one reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), for protection of the concentrators or collectors under liquid displaces liquid in that reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), and causes the flooding of an adjacent lower platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) to protect the concentrators or collectors carried thereon.

A solar power system (11) which comprises a plurality of solar energy collecting means (10,10a,10b,10c) respectively comprising a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) floating on liquid in a liquid reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), each platform assembly carrying solar energy concentrators or collectors and respective reservoirs (14,14a,14b,14c), being interconnected in series and arranged in a cascading relationship such that the flooding of a platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) in one reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), for protection of the concentrators or collectors under liquid displaces liquid in that reservoir (14,14a,14b,14c), and causes the flooding of an adjacent lower platform assembly (16,16a,16b,16c) to protect the concentrators or collectors carried thereon.

A method of deploying floating photovoltaic (“PV”) modules on water includes attaching first and second sections of a tensioning frame between a first group of mooring buoys. In a first embodiment, the first and second sections are adjoining sections attached to a common one of the mooring buoys and a plurality of PV modules are unrolled from positions adjacent to the first section of the tensioning frame and the PV modules are extended out from the first section. In a second embodiment, the PV modules are unrolled and extended out between two floating platforms. The PV modules are mechanically attached into a contiguous PV array. Third and fourth sections of the tensioning frame are attached between a second group of the mooring buoys to at least partially surround the PV array with the tensioning frame. Tension on the tensioning frame is adjusted to place the PV array under tension.