Solarcity Corporation

Tesla, Inc.

Gaf Energy LLC

Noria Energy

Zep Solar, LLC

The R&d Lab Company

Apple Inc.

Brian Edward Atchley

Jack Raymond West

Tyrus Hawkes Hudson

Brian L West

Daniel Flanigan

Charles Bernardo Almy

Thierry Nguyen

Emil Johansen

Remy D Labesque

Geoffrey John Fedoroff

Johann Fritz Karkheck

Evan Michael Wray

Peter Clemente

Daniel East

David Molina

Garret Anthony Bautista

Richard Perkins

Jason King

James Raiford

Alex Mayer

Jonathan Hewlett

Mike Kuiper

Becca Suchower

John Raymond West

Ryan Lemon Devine

Brian D West

Nazar Dzoba

Anthony Folk

Joe O'Connor

Ian Crecelius

Andreas Meisel

Kyle Tripp

Amy Ochsenrieter

Duncan Cleminshaw

David Youmans

Martin Seery

Lewis C Abra

Bobby Yang

Peter P Nguyen

Soren Jensen

Alex Christopher Mayer

River Broussard

Piotr Zajac

Kaleb A Klauber

Ian Capsuto

Nicholas G J De Vries

Seth M Winger

Ralf Schulze

David Miljkovic

Chad Medcroft

Nate Coleman

Steve Pisklak

Greg Ball

Scott Tripp

Leslie Arciniega

Nicholas GJ Vries

A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having a mat with an edge and a spacer with an edge, the edge of the mat being attached to the edge of the spacer. The spacer includes a plurality of support members and a solar module mounted to the support members. Each of the support members includes a ledge. The solar module and the ledge form a space therebetween. The space is sized and shaped to receive an edge of a solar module of another of the photovoltaic modules. The spacer of one of the photovoltaic modules overlays the mat of another of the photovoltaic modules.

Mounting apparatus for photovoltaic modules

A roof integrated photovoltaic system includes a starter bar having a foot base and configured to be installed to a roof deck, a plurality of water shedding layers, and a photovoltaic module. One of the plurality of water shedding layers is configured to be installed over the foot base of the starter bar, and one of another of which is configured to overlap and be installed over the one of the plurality of water shedding layers. The system further includes a foot module configured to be attached to an upper portion of the photovoltaic module. A lower portion of the photovoltaic module is configured to align with the foot base of the starter bar, and the foot module is configured to be affixed on a last overlapping layer of the plurality of water shedding layers to the roof deck.

Roof integrated photovoltaic system

A system for controlling the position and orientation of a floating solar array, having: (a) a floating solar array; (b) a plurality of retractable, bi-directional thrusters mounted to the floating solar array and extending below the floating solar array; (c) a control system on the floating solar array for controlling power level of each of the plurality of thrusters, and (d) a power cable connecting the floating solar array to an onshore grid by way of a power cable connector at a bottom central location on the floating solar array. Submerged baffles, perimeter floats and a method of stowing the floating solar array in high winds by rotating the floating solar array into a direction perpendicular to the direction of the high winds are also included.

Floating solar photovoltaic array with on-board energy management system for controlling and powering inflatable support pontoons, water quality, air compression and mooring devices

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float for use with a floating solar PV array, including: a float formed from a flexible membrane; and an expansion structure that is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air. The expansion structure may be an expandable structure that is positioned within the float, or around an exterior surface of the float and increases in size when deployed.

Flat-pack membrane based solar PV array floats having deployable expansion structures that inflate the floats without forced air preliminary class

A solar power system for a metal shingled roof, including: a plurality of metal roofing shingles; and a plurality of solar module mounting assemblies, wherein each of the solar module mounting assemblies has upper and lower module cleats that support upper and lower solar module frames thereon such that the upper and lower module frames are both spaced apart in a direction parallel to the roof, and spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the roof.

Solar module system for metal shingled roof

A floating solar array having a grid of structural members with openings therebetween and supporting pontoons underneath. One or more floating solar PV modules are positioned in each of the openings and elastic connectors are used to isolate these floating solar PV modules from the movement of the structural member grid. A first end of each of the elastic connectors are connected to the structural members or to one of the grid supporting pontoons, while a second end of each elastic connector is connected either to a PV module supporting pontoon or to the PV module mounted thereon. Together, these elastic connectors allow for limited linear and torsional movement of each of the floating solar PV modules with respect to the structural member grid.

Structural support grid for floating solar array

A system includes a photovoltaic module including at least one solar cell with electrical bussing, an encapsulant encapsulating the at least one solar cell and having a first surface with a first opening, and a frontsheet juxtaposed with the first surface of the encapsulant. The frontsheet includes a second opening extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof. The second opening of the frontsheet is in fluid communication with the first opening of the encapsulant. The electrical bussing is positioned in the first opening. An electrical wire is connected to the electrical bussing through the first and second openings. A cover is attached to the frontsheet and covers one end of the electrical wire and the first and second openings.

Photovoltaic modules

A cable passthrough includes a first layer having a first edge and an aperture, and a second layer overlapping the first layer. The passthrough is configured to be installed on a roof deck, such that the aperture is configured to align with an aperture formed within the roof deck. The passthrough is configured to receive at least one cable having a first end and a second end. The second end of the cable is capable of extending outwardly from the first edge of the first layer and the first edge of the second layer of the passthrough. The cable is configured to be positioned intermediate the first layer and the second layer.

Electrical cable passthrough

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays with improved aesthetics and efficiency that can replace a conventional roof surface structure. These BIPV systems can utilize photovoltaic PV roof tiles defined as glass tiles having photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the roof tile. Such PV roof tiles can include one or more lapping features for interfacing with adjacent tiles and features for electrically connecting multiples tiles within a course to an external power optimizer. Such PV roof tiles can utilize stamped glass that is stamped to define these features within an integrated glass tile and can further include texture, striations on the glass tile and/or color matched back layers or various other components to obscure visibility of any embedded solar cells and provide a more pleasing appearance.

Building integrated photovoltaic system with glass photovoltaic tiles

Electrical cable passthrough for photovoltaic systems

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 roofing modules that have photovoltaic elements embedded or incorporated into the body of the module, in distinct tiles-sized areas. The use of modules that replicate the look of individual roofing tiles (or shingles) can lead to a more efficient installation process. Further, modules can include flexible joints between the distinct tiles-sized areas, across which solar cells within the module are electrically connected. The flexibility granted to the modules also makes installation easier, and further improves the fatigue and strain resistance of the overall solar array for its operational life.

Flexible solar roofing modules

Growing community of inventors

Petaluma, CA, United States of America

Brian Edward Atchley