A first plurality of roofing shingles installed in a first plurality of rows on a roof deck, and a second plurality of roofing shingles installed in a second plurality of rows. An edge of one of the second roofing shingles in each of the second rows is offset from the edge of another one of the second roofing shingles in another adjacent one of the second rows. An edge of a first photovoltaic shingle is juxtaposed with the edge of a first roofing shingle of the second roofing shingles in a first row of the second rows. The edge of at least another photovoltaic shingle in at least one of another row of the second rows is substantially aligned with the edge of the first photovoltaic shingle. An additional roofing shingle is installed intermediate one of the second roofing shingles and one of the photovoltaic shingles.

A solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells embedded in a layer of encapsulant. A textured and/or colored layer is positioned on a back side of the layer of encapsulant. The textured and/or colored layer matches a color and/or texture of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. A top layer is positioned on a front side of the layer of encapsulant.

A solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells embedded in a layer of encapsulant. A textured and/or colored layer is positioned on a back side of the layer of encapsulant. The textured and/or colored layer matches a color and/or texture of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. A top layer is positioned on a front side of the layer of encapsulant.

A solar shingle having a substrate positioned beneath an upper material layer and at least one photovoltaic cell coupled to the substrate. A first terminal can be electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell and positioned adjacent to a first sidewall of the solar shingle, and a second terminal can be electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell and positioned adjacent to a second sidewall of the solar shingle. An upper surface of the upper material layer can have one or more recesses positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and adjacent to the at least one photovoltaic cell. Further, the upper surface can have a variety of imparted surface characteristics, among other aesthetics and coloring, that can provide the solar shingle with outwardly appearance that is at least similar to traditional, non-solar shingles.

A solar shingle having a substrate positioned beneath an upper material layer and at least one photovoltaic cell coupled to the substrate. A first terminal can be electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell and positioned adjacent to a first sidewall of the solar shingle, and a second terminal can be electrically coupled to the at least one photovoltaic cell and positioned adjacent to a second sidewall of the solar shingle. An upper surface of the upper material layer can have one or more recesses positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and adjacent to the at least one photovoltaic cell. Further, the upper surface can have a variety of imparted surface characteristics, among other aesthetics and coloring, that can provide the solar shingle with outwardly appearance that is at least similar to traditional, non-solar shingles.

Present disclosure relates to an assembly for mounting solar panel tiles or other tiles/panels over a roof (surface). Assembly includes C-shaped base frames provided with holes at the bottom for fixing them parallelly over the roof. Rows of tiles are then mounted over two adjacent base frames. Assembly further includes Z-shaped clamping frames for holding the tile which sits and is mounted on the base frames. Clamping frames hold the tile at the top, and the bottom of another tile resting on a previous clamping frame. An area close to the bottom edge of tiles has a layer of adhesive that helps in attaching the bottom edge of tile to the top of a previous clamping frame, thereby making the assembly aesthetically pleasing and leakproof. Another set of holes are provided on the base frames, and clamping frames, to allow cables to pass through them, and provide proper ventilation beneath the assembly.

A system including a plurality of photovoltaic modules and a plurality of roofing shingles installed on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes a plurality of solar cells. Each of the plurality of roofing shingles includes a core layer and a cap layer composed of a first polymer material and having a first surface and a pattern printed on the first surface. The pattern includes a depiction of a plurality of solar cells that extends between the first end and the second end.

A system including a plurality of photovoltaic modules and a plurality of roofing shingles installed on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes a plurality of solar cells. Each of the plurality of roofing shingles includes a core layer and a cap layer composed of a first polymer material and having a first surface and a pattern printed on the first surface. The pattern includes a depiction of a plurality of solar cells that extends between the first end and the second end.

A roofing, cladding or siding product which is light weight, easy to install, durable and resistant to environmental wear. The module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region, wherein the underlapping region is adapted to be at least partially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent module when installed on a building surface. The module also includes a textured surface area on an upper surface of the underlapping region and/or an underside of the exposed region. In use, the textured surface (e.g. made up from a densely packed group of cones, pyramids or cylinders) presents an increased surface area for improved contact with an adhesive. The adhesive, e.g. in strip form, may by located on an aligning part of an adjacent module with the textured surface area.

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic modules having the appearance of a plurality of roofing tiles that each have photovoltaic cells. Each photovoltaic module may include a metal backer, photovoltaic cells, and light transmissive top sheets adhered to both the metal backer and the photovoltaic cells. BIPV systems can also include non-photovoltaic modules that appear similar to photovoltaic modules, but do not collect solar energy.