A support structure for a solar panel includes a beam disposed above a post. The beam includes a first side recessed inwards to form a first rectilinear groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the beam. The first rectilinear groove includes a groove opening having two opposite edges each of which inclines downwards to form a slant face connected to the first side. A spacing between two opposite inclined groove walls of the first rectilinear groove gradually decreases towards the groove opening. A U-shaped saddle is disposed between the post and the beam and straddles a top portion of the post. Two sides of the saddle respectively abut two outer faces of the post and are secured to the post. A top portion of the saddle is secured to the beam by a fastener unit.

Shade house for casting an adjustable shadow over a surface, the shade house including: at least one frame extending in a longitudinal direction; a first set of photovoltaic panels mounted on the frame substantially orthogonally to a same orientation axis; a second set of opaque panels, for preference photovoltaic, mounted on the frame and movable in longitudinal translation relative to the frame at least between an open configuration, in which the panels are at least partially superposed over the panels in a view along the orientation axis, and a closed configuration, in which the panels at least partially extend beyond the panels in a view along the orientation axis; and an actuation system configured to actuate the second set at least from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and vice versa, the actuation system including pulleys mounted on the frame.

A single axis solar tracker includes two drive systems (motors) that both rotate a rotating shaft. The drive systems may be located about 16-25% from either longitudinal end of the rotating shaft.

A solar panel attachment assembly including a purlin bent into a U-shaped channel with a mounting wall, an upright wall and a cross piece attached to the upper edge. A solar panel having a frame with a lower horizontal wall forming a mounting surface and a vertical wall forming an outer surface. An inwardly directed channel formed on the upper edge of the vertical wall surrounds and fixedly engages the edges of solar sensors. Attachment bolts with a portion of the body being threaded and a tip portion of the body having a drill bit formed therein. The drill bit has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the bolt threads, and the attachment bolts are positioned to extend through the cross piece of the purlin and through the lower horizontal wall of the cross-section to hold the solar panel in abutting engagement with the purlin.

A method and a kit for building a protective structure, the method and the kit including supplying a carrying structure, including a plurality of parallel carrying rails; supplying a group of panels, the panels being able to be engaged on and slide on the carrying rails; and transferring the panels from the storage position to a final position bearing on the carrying rails, by transferring at least one of the panels from the storage position to an insertion position on the carrying rails; using a transfer device lifting the at least one panel upward; placing the transferred panels one after the other bearing on the carrying rails; and moving the transferred panels along the carrying rails.

Solar panels are coupled to elongated purlins by solar panel clamps. A single strip of sheet metal is folded to form a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion opposed to the first mounting portion, and a first section of an upright wall extending perpendicularly therebetween. A first and second mounting shelves extend perpendicularly from the first section of the upright wall. A second section of the upright wall extends perpendicularly from between the first and second mounting shelves. A plurality of solar panel clamps affix the plurality of solar panels to the mounting shelves of the elongated purlins.

Solar panels are coupled to elongated purlins by solar panel clamps. A single strip of sheet metal is folded to form a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion opposed to the first mounting portion, and a first section of an upright wall extending perpendicularly therebetween. A first and second mounting shelves extend perpendicularly from the first section of the upright wall. A second section of the upright wall extends perpendicularly from between the first and second mounting shelves. A plurality of solar panel clamps affix the plurality of solar panels to the mounting shelves of the elongated purlins.

Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.

Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.

Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.