A solar panel mounting system forming an opening for holding solar panels therein for easy installation and removal and replacement. The system includes a plurality of support members adapted for positioning on a support surface. A roof panel is positioned on a top surface of adjacent support members and compressibly held in place by an astragal which is fastened to the support member sandwiching the roof panel between the astragal and the support member. A solar panel opening is formed between projecting portions on opposing sides of the roof panel which extend at an angle substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the support member.

A solar energy collector arrangement that includes a plurality of solar collectors arranged in at least two rows and at least two columns, and at least one fastening member. A fastening member in the middle of solar energy collector arrangement is configured to couple to four solar energy collectors around it, and fastening members in an edge area of the solar energy collector arrangement are configured to couple and align two solar energy collectors to each other.

A solar energy collector arrangement that includes a plurality of solar collectors arranged in at least two rows and at least two columns, and at least one fastening member. A fastening member in the middle of solar energy collector arrangement is configured to couple to four solar energy collectors around it, and fastening members in an edge area of the solar energy collector arrangement are configured to couple and align two solar energy collectors to each other.

An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

A non-invasive 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 attachment system includes vertical and lateral array stays 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. The non-slip attachment system uses, among other things, an array-stay retainer comprising a vertical member and a horizontal member. A high friction foam polymer padding may further secure the array stays to the roof.

An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.

A solar roof of a building includes a plurality of solar panels removably coupled to a roof of the building such that a first solar panel of the plurality of solar panels is configured to be removed from the roof without removing an adjacent solar panel.

A universal clamp apparatus for use to secure a solar panel frame to a rail coupled to a building roof is provided. The clamp apparatus includes an upper clamp member slidably mounted to a lower clamp member, a bolt disposed through the upper clamp member, and a grounding nut coupled to the lower clamp member and engaged with the bolt. The grounding nut has a base plate and a tubular portion extending through the lower clamp member to engage the bolt. The base plate of the grounding nut has a first pair of opposing edges having pointed pins configured to penetrate the frame of the solar panel to facilitate grounding of the solar panel. The grounding nut rotatably adjusts relative to the bolt to vary the separation distance between the lower clamp member and upper clamp member to permit the solar panel frames with different thicknesses to be secured therein.

A solar panel bracket with a water conducting function for carrying a plurality of solar photovoltaic panels, comprising: a plurality of first brackets, each of the first brackets is arranged in parallel with each other, each of the first brackets has a first water conducting groove; a plurality of second brackets, each of the second brackets is arranged in parallel with each other, each of the second brackets has a second water conducting groove, the second brackets and the first brackets are arranged perpendicular to each other, and the second brackets and the first brackets surround to form a plurality of square spaces, the solar photovoltaic panels are arranged on the square spaces; and a plurality of third water conducting groove groups, each of the third water conducting groove groups is disposed on the side of each of the first brackets, and each of the third water conducting groove group has a third water conducting groove, and the second water conducting grooves communicate with the third water conducting grooves.