Earth mount utility-scale photovoltaic array with edge portions resting on ground support area
An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.
1 . A method comprising providing a power plant having at least one array of PV modules by
supporting modules in rows resting on the ground in an earth orientation,
and
providing a connection between proximate modules.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection vertically aligns the module faces.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein vertically aligns is aligned close enough to permit an autonomous cleaning robot to clean the array.
4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising resting module edge frames on a ground support area capable of supporting the edge frames by receiving the edge frames of the modules.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein supporting modules on the ground includes supporting modules on the ground with module edge frames directly resting on the ground in an earth orientation.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the edge frames resting on the ground support area provides mechanical support for the module.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein edge portions the edge frames of the solar module rest on a ground support area capable of supporting the edge portions frames by receiving edge frames of a plurality of modules to contact the ground.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the modules contact the ground without a mechanical support structure between the modules and the ground.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the connection includes an inter-module connector.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the connection comprises a bracket or spring-clip arrangement.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
interconnecting the modules in a series-connected string, wherein the string extends between adjacent modules along at least two rows and the string has terminal ends with a distance between ends less than a lengthwise dimension of the string modules.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the string uses the rows to route the connections so that a string starting with a first end termination extends along a direction and returns along an opposite direction.
The method of claim 12 further comprising operating the power plant.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein operating the power plant comprises cleaning the array by using an autonomous cleaning robot to clean the modules.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising operating the power plant.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the power plant comprises cleaning the array by using an autonomous cleaning robot to clean the modules.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modules contact the ground without a mechanical support structure between the modules and the ground.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the connection includes an inter-module connector.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the connection comprises a bracket or spring-clip arrangement.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
interconnecting the modules in a series-connected string, wherein the string extends between adjacent modules along at least two rows and the string has terminal ends with a distance between ends less than a lengthwise dimension of the string modules.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the string uses the rows to route the connections so that a string starting with a first end termination extends along a direction and returns along an opposite direction.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising operating the power plant.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein operating the power plant comprises cleaning the array by using an autonomous cleaning robot to clean the modules.