A non-slip roof attachment system for attaching structures to residential and commercial roofs without the use of penetrations to roofing shingles and sealing layers is described. The non-slip attachment system may be used to attach roof mounted systems such as solar panels. The non-slip attachment system also allows for the quick removal of such roof mounted systems rapidly and without the need for repair of penetrations.

A folded down support (12) allows for stronger solar panels (10) and the support replaces most of the solar racking required for solar installation which further reduces the cost of the photovoltaic solar system. The solar panels (10) can be arranged so that solar panels form a solar collector solar panel array. The solar panel (10) can be set on a surface by itself or with ballast (43). It can also be attached to the surface by fastening the solar panel to the side supports. If the solar panel frame and supports are electrically conductive, the design allows for self electrical grounding between these conductive parts when the side supports are pivoted to the down position. The folded up support allows for high density storage and shipping.

A support assembly for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support assembly may comprise a the body portion including a base portion and at least one upright support member coupled to the base portion, the at least one upright support member comprising an integrally formed ballast tray slot in one side thereof for receiving an upturned edge of a ballast tray; and at least one clamp subassembly coupled to the at least one upright support member of the body portion, the at least one clamp subassembly configured to be coupled to one or more photovoltaic modules. In addition to a plurality of support assemblies, the mounting system may further comprise at least one ballast tray support bracket, the ballast tray support bracket supporting a portion of a ballast tray on the support surface.

An apparatus for mounting and supporting one or more solar modules are provided. The apparatus can include a front wall and a rear wall. The apparatus can further include a curved surface that joins the front wall and the rear wall to form a base of the apparatus. The base of the apparatus can have a curved bottom. Furthermore, the base of the apparatus can be configured to mount and support the one or more solar modules. Related methods are also provided.

A ground-mounted system for supporting photovoltaic panels singularly or in an array of interconnected panels includes a support base, a plurality of legs connected to the support base on one side and to clips on an opposed side, where the clips connect to a photovoltaic panel.

Disclosed herein is a solar thermal collector system that is particularly configured for dual use as a radiant cooling system. In accordance with aspects of a particular embodiment of the invention, the solar thermal collector system includes a solar thermal module having a glazing sheet at a top, exterior surface, and an absorber sheet within the module positioned below and spaced apart from the glazing sheet. The absorber sheet and the glazing sheet are fluidly connected to a fluid handling system, and are configured to carry a working fluid that may be heated in the absorber sheet by the sun to transfer such heat to equipment within the facility in which the system is installed, and to carry the working fluid through the glazing sheet to transfer heat collected from the facility to space. The solar thermal collector module is preferably provided a thermally actuated valve that allows the working fluid to also flow through the glazing sheet, which results in self-regulation of the temperature of the module below a critical design temperature.

A folded down support (12) allows for stronger solar panels (10) and the support replaces most of the solar racking required for solar installation which further reduces the cost of the photovoltaic solar system. The solar panels (10) can be arranged so that solar panels form a solar collector solar panel array. The solar panel (10) can be set on a surface by itself or with ballast (43). It can also be attached to the surface by fastening the solar panel to the side supports. If the solar panel frame and supports are electrically conductive, the design allows for self electrical grounding between these conductive parts when the side supports are pivoted to the down position. The folded up support allows for high density storage and shipping.

A plastic mounting support (10, 110, 210) for a solar panel (12) includes a plastic base (16, 116, 216) adapted to engage a support surface and support a ballast block (26) and a plastic member (24, 124, 224) for connection to the solar panel (12) and cooperating with the base (16, 116, 216) to hold the ballast block (26) therebetween such that the ballast block cooperates with the plastic mounting support (10, 110, 210) to carry part of a downward load on the solar panel (12), as well as, resists an upward wind load on the solar panel (12).

A support member for mounting photovoltaic modules on a support surface and a mounting system including the same are disclosed herein. The support member may comprise a body portion, the body portion including a ballast receiving portion for accommodating one or more ballasts, the body portion further including at least one support portion; and at least one clamp subassembly, the at least one clamp subassembly rotatably coupled to the at least one support portion of the body portion, the at least one clamp subassembly configured to be coupled to one or more photovoltaic modules, the at least one clamp subassembly including a downwardly sloped flange portion configured to facilitate an insertion of the one or more photovoltaic modules into the at least one clamp subassembly, and to limit a rotation of the at least one clamp subassembly on the at least one support portion of the body portion.