The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.

The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.

An elevated dual-axis photovoltaic solar tracking assembly tracks the position of the sun with a high efficiency photovoltaic array, orienting photovoltaic array orthogonal to the sun, for optimal efficiency in generating electricity every minute of every day year-round. The assembly provides a pole, typically 20 feet, to elevate the photovoltaic array, thereby allowing a minimum 13 feet clearance from the ground at all times to retain use of the real estate space below the photovoltaic array. A structural frame carries photovoltaic array. A drive-core unit has two interdependent slew drives, driven by all-electric motors, to adjust positioning of photovoltaic array in the orthogonal orientation relative to sun while maintaining the photovoltaic array longitudinal axis orientation to the support pole. This drive-core unit includes the control system with GPS, anemometer, snow sensor and encoder transducers that provide data for a positional algorithm to calculate the sun's position, and move the photovoltaic array to optimally track it, at preset time intervals; as well as to move the array to other desired positions for wind and snow safety or owner preference. The control system energizes the slew drives via electric motors for movement and optimal sun tracking.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for melting snow from a surface of a power source. The power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) module.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for melting snow from a surface of a power source. The power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) module.

A system and method for heating a surface. The system can be a solar panel system and the surface can be a solar panel. The system includes a heat source and a processor. The processor determines an amount of heating energy for removing an accumulated material from the solar panel to obtain an unobstructed solar panel, determines an amount of energy production of the unobstructed solar panel, and controls the heat source to apply the determined amount of heating energy to the solar panel when the determined amount of energy production is greater than the amount of heating energy.

A system and method for heating a surface. The system can be a solar panel system and the surface can be a solar panel. The system includes a heat source and a processor. The processor determines an amount of heating energy for removing an accumulated material from the solar panel to obtain an unobstructed solar panel, determines an amount of energy production of the unobstructed solar panel, and controls the heat source to apply the determined amount of heating energy to the solar panel when the determined amount of energy production is greater than the amount of heating energy.

An installation method of a solar panel includes: an installation step of installing the solar panel such that a light receiving surface of the solar panel is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and faces the sun; and an ultrasonic vibrator arrangement step of arranging an ultrasonic vibrator generating ultrasonic vibration to the light receiving surface of the solar panel, before or after the installation step is performed, and snow or dust deposited on the light receiving surface of the solar panel is removed by the ultrasonic vibration.

An installation method of a solar panel includes: an installation step of installing the solar panel such that a light receiving surface of the solar panel is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and faces the sun; and an ultrasonic vibrator arrangement step of arranging an ultrasonic vibrator generating ultrasonic vibration to the light receiving surface of the solar panel, before or after the installation step is performed, and snow or dust deposited on the light receiving surface of the solar panel is removed by the ultrasonic vibration.

The embodiments are apparatuses, systems and methods of water management and icicle prevention for solar carports, and are designed to catch drips between rows of, and water run-off from, the low side of inclined photovoltaic modules arranged to form the roof of the solar carport or canopy.