Flat Tile Solar Panels

1 . An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array comprising:

a plurality of solar panels;

means to support the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof; and

means to interconnect the solar panels in at least one series-connected string, wherein said at least one series-connected string extends along adjacent or closely adjacent solar panels along at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string.

2 . The solar panel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

an attachment bracket connecting photovoltaic panels in the photovoltaic array, the attachment bracket comprising:

at least one of a first type edge flange mating with outer edge frames of a plurality of the panels, the first type edge flange fitting the respective edge frames;

a plurality of second type of edge flanges corresponding to ones of the inside edge flanges mating with respective inner sides of the outer edge frames of the plurality of panels, the second type of edge flanges fitting the respective ones of the edge frames so as to cooperate with respective ones of the first type of edge flanges to grip the respective edge frames;

a top retaining member located in alignment with the edge frame of each panel, the top retaining member retaining the edge frame in position at the attachment bracket, and thereby retaining each panel in position at the attachment bracket; and

a body section linking the plurality of first type of edge flanges and second type of edge flanges to retain the panels in linked relationship.

3 . The solar panel array of claim 2 , wherein

at least one of the first type edge flange and second type of edge flanges have a mechanical elasticity and bias, so as to engage the edge panels of the panels.

4 . The solar panel array of claim 2 , wherein

the first type edge flange terminates with a top flange, to retain the panels secured to the attachment bracket.

5 . The solar panel array of claim 2 , further comprising:

an anchor member engaging the attachment bracket to retain the plurality of panels in position on the ground,

wherein the gripping members protrude from ones of the first and second type of edge flanges to grip the respective edge frames, thereby retaining the panels when the anchor member engages the attachment bracket.

6 . The solar panel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

an attachment bracket connecting photovoltaic panels in the photovoltaic array, the attachment bracket comprising:

a plurality of a first type of edge flanges mating with edge frames of the plurality of panels, including adjacent edge frame sections of at least one of the plurality of panels at a corner of that panel, the inside edge flanges fitting the respective edge frames;

a plurality of a second type of edge flanges corresponding to ones of the first type of edge flanges mating with respective ones of the edge frames and fixed to the respective ones of the edge flanges, the second type of edge flanges fitting the respective ones of the edge frames so as to cooperate with respective ones of the first type of edge flanges to grip the respective edge frames;

gripping members located in alignment with the edge frame of each panel, the gripping member retaining the edge frame in position at the attachment bracket, and thereby retaining each panel in position at the attachment bracket; and

a body section linking the plurality of first type of edge flanges and second type of edge flanges to retain the panels in linked relationship.

7 . The solar panel array of claim 1 , further comprising:

the means to interconnect comprising wiring connections engaging terminal connections on the plurality of photovoltaic panels in the series-connected string, the wiring connections arranged to connect adjacent panels in an arrangement utilizing at least two rows of panels in the series-connected string connection, in which the string uses said at least two rows to route the connections so that a string starting with a first end termination extends along a direction of said at least two rows and returns along an opposite direction of said at least two rows, thereby reducing or eliminating “home run” connections at the end of the string.

8 . The solar panel array of claim 1 , wherein the means to support the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof comprises:

a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground;

a ground support area capable of supporting the edge portions of the panels by receiving edge frames of a plurality of panels, whereby the edge portions resting on the ground support area provides mechanical support for the panel; and

an end-stop or curb member positioned at the edge of an array.

9 . The solar panel array of claim 1 , wherein the means to support the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof comprises:

a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground; and

a furrow formed as a groove, depression or channel dug into the ground to receive edge frames of a plurality of panels, whereby the edge portions resting on the furrow provides mechanical support for the panel.

10 . An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array comprising:

a plurality of solar panels;

a support which supports the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof;

an interconnection which interconnects the solar panels comprising wiring connections engaging terminal connections on the plurality of photovoltaic panels in at least one series-connected string, wherein said at least one series-connected string extends along adjacent or closely adjacent solar panels along at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, thereby reducing or eliminating “home run” connections at the end of the string;

a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground; and

a ground support area capable of supporting the edge portions of the panels by receiving edge frames of a plurality of panels, whereby the edge portions resting on the ground support area provides mechanical support for the panel.

11 . The solar photovoltaic array of claim 10 , wherein the means to support the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof further comprises:

an end-stop or curb member positioned at the edge of an array.

12 . The solar photovoltaic array of claim 10 , further comprising:

a ventilator venting a space between the panels and the ground.

13 . The solar photovoltaic array of claim 10 , further comprising:

at least a plurality of the solar panels having a dark or heat transmitting coating facilitating heat transfer and coated on an underside of the respective solar panels; and

a ventilator venting a space between the panels and the ground.

14 . An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array comprising:

a plurality of solar panels supported on the ground so as to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels and positioned in a closely-adjacent arrangement or an abutting arrangement of plural rows of the solar panels; and

an interconnect circuit for the solar panels connecting the solar panels in at least one series-connected string, wherein said at least one series-connected string extends along adjacent or closely adjacent solar panels along at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, the means to interconnect comprising wiring connections engaging terminal connections on the plurality of photovoltaic panels in the series-connected string, the wiring connections arranged to connect adjacent panels in an arrangement utilizing at least two rows of panels in the series-connected string connection, in which the string uses said at least two rows to route the connections so that a string starting with a first end termination extends along a direction of said at least two rows and returns along an opposite direction of said at least two rows, thereby reducing or eliminating “home run” connections at the end of the string,

wherein the earth orientation reduces the cost of the photovoltaic array by eliminating costs associated with providing and installing elevated supports for the solar panels,

and wherein the earth orientation of the solar panels provides a flat orientation that permits cleaning with automated horizontal surface cleaning equipment.

15 . The earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array of claim 14 , further comprising:

an end curb member abutting at least one edge of the arrangement of plural rows.

16 . The earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array of claim 14 , further comprising:

a ventilator venting a space between the panels and the ground.

17 . The earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array of claim 14 , further comprising:

at least a plurality of the solar panels having a dark or heat transmitting coating facilitating heat transfer and coated on an underside of the respective solar panels; and

a ventilator venting a space between the panels and the ground.

18 . An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array comprising:

a plurality of utility scale solar panels operating in a protected area above 600 Vdc;

means to support the solar panels on the ground at edge portions thereof;

means to support the solar panels in direct contact or substantially close to the earth's surface and substantially parallel to the same; and

means to support the solar panels in an adjacent or closely adjacent relationship to establish a grid pattern both edge to edge and end-to-end.

19 . The earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array of claim 18 , further comprising:

an end curb member abutting at least one edge of the arrangement of plural rows.

20 . The earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array of claim 18 , further comprising:

at least a plurality of the solar panels having a dark or heat transmitting coating facilitating heat transfer and coated on an underside of the respective solar panels; and

a ventilator venting a space between the panels and the ground.

21 - 59 . (canceled)