Systems and methods for mounting solar panels include a curb assembly coupled to a top surface of a roof. An end of a solar panel rests on a portion of the assembly. An astragal is located with a portion of the astragal extending over the edge of the solar panel. A fastener is engaged through the astragal and the curb assembly such that a portion of the astragal contacts and compressively engages the top surface of the supported solar panel edge, whereby the solar panel is mounted to the roof. Moreover, systems and methods cleaning solar panels of a solar panel system installed on an exterior surface are also described.

Frames and processes of manufacture using single-wall frame sections coupled to other single-wall frame sections or double-wall frame sections using a connecting key are provided. The connecting key can be metallic, polymer, ceramic, a laminate, and combinations thereof.

A two-piece truss leg with an articulating coupler for an A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for single-axis trackers. The coupler is attached to the head of each screw anchor to enable it to be driven. A connection portion extends above the coupler and is received within an open end of an upper leg to allow the upper leg to be misaligned with respect to it corresponding screw anchor.

A vertical column has a column body extending between a first end and a second end. The column body includes a main body, a conical portion extending from the main body, and a tip portion extending from the conical portion. The vertical column includes a first helical structure extending around a portion of the main body and a second helical structure extending around a portion the tip portion.

A bonding clamp includes a top bracket including opposing side walls defining a channel therebetween. The top bracket has an aperture through a central portion thereof. The top bracket is shaped to receive a first photovoltaic (“PV”) module on a first side and a second PV module on a second side. A bottom bracket includes a body and a pair of top flanges extending vertically from a top surface of the body. The pair of top flanges are spaced apart from each other. The bottom bracket also includes anti-rotation flanges extending from a bottom surface of body. A fastening mechanism fastens the top bracket in a fixed position with respect to the bottom bracket.

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic facility (1) comprising a solar tracker (2) and at least one square or rectangular photovoltaic panel (3) mounted on the solar tracker (2), this solar tracker (2) enabling the inclination of the photovoltaic panel (3) to be varied with respect to the horizontal, so that two opposite edges of the photovoltaic panel, referred to as horizontal edges (31), are always horizontal whatever the inclination of the photovoltaic panel (3).

This facility is characterised in that it comprises at least one gutter (4) for recovering rainwater, in that this gutter (4) is mounted along one of the two horizontal edges (31) of the photovoltaic panel (3) using at least two anchoring devices (5), to which it is suspended, so that it can oscillate under the action of its own weight, about a horizontal axis of rotation (Y-Y′), so as to remain horizontal whatever the inclination of the photovoltaic panel (3).

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, solar energy shade structures and methods of design and revenue generation are disclosed. These systems comprise structures capable of supporting solar panel at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. These systems may be installed in confined spaces. These systems also comprise structures that are customizable, allowing an installation to be configured with a desired lighting and environmental effect. The methods discussed herein describe processes for achieving desired design effects based on natural elements. Moreover, the methods discussed herein describe processes for reducing the costs of generating solar energy and/or reducing the costs of providing a solar structure.

Disclosed is a device with a heat exchanger having a first flow through which a first gaseous heat transfer medium passes and a second flow through which a second gaseous heat transfer medium passes. Upstream of the first flow, there is a combustion chamber, which optionally extends into the first flow. Two feed lines are attached to the first flow, of which the first feed line is connected to a thermal solar installation and the second feed line is connected to a source for a combustible gas-air mixture or for a non-combustible gas, in particular an oxygen-containing gas, such as air.

A dual drive shaft solar tracker system comprises a photovoltaic (PV) structure, which includes at least one solar panel, a support structure and first and second drive shafts. The first and second drive shafts comprise first and second belt mechanisms wherein movement of the PV structure occurs by wrapping belts of the first belt mechanism onto the first drive shaft and by wrapping belts of the second belt mechanism onto the second drive shaft so as to provide a non-linear wrapping rate to accommodate the non-linearity of the belt wrapping onto the first and second drive shafts. A linkage, which ties two rows that are unbalanced in opposite directions, cancels out the imbalance as long as both rows have identical components. This allows trackers to use PV modules of any size and weight and the perfect balance is unaffected.

The present teachings relate to a solar roof forming element for forming a solar roof of a building, comprising an extruded, elongate polymer roof plate, element coupling means, at least one solar panel covering the roof plate, panel coupling means for coupling the solar panel to the roof plate, comprising a first coupling part at a first side of the roof plate and a second coupling part at a first side of the solar panel, said coupling parts configured such that they mutually couple as a result of a movement of the solar panel relative to the roof plate, wherein in a coupled state a movement of the solar panel away from the roof plate in a direction perpendicular to the roof plate is blocked. The present teachings further relate to a combination of such solar roof forming elements, to a building, and to a method of forming a roof.