Flat Tile Solar Panels
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 utility-scale PV array comprising PV modules in adjacent rows having flexible inter-module joints, wherein the modules contact the ground.
2 . The array of claim 1 , wherein the modules are adjacent within a row.
3 . The array of claim 2 , wherein the flexible inter-module joints comprise connectors.
4 . The array of claim 3 , wherein the modules contact and are supported by the ground in an azimuth-independent earth orientation.
5 . The array of claim 4 , wherein some of the modules are supported by contact with the ground at edge frames.
6 . The array of claim 5 , wherein the modules rest on native topography or a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground.
7 . The array of claim 6 , wherein connecters link rows.
8 . The array of claim 7 , wherein connecters link individual modules.
9 . The array of claim 8 wherein the module contacts the ground without an intervening support structure.
10 . The array of claim 9 , wherein the utility scale array is earth mounted.
11 . An array comprising:
adjoining rows of modules;
and
a means to support module edge frames on or near the ground in an earth orientation, wherein the modules contact the ground without a structural support between the modules.
12 . The array of claim 11 further comprising a retention means for linking modules.
13 . The array of claim 12 , wherein the modules proximally link through connectors to form an interconnected array.
14 . The array of claim 13 , wherein the links are flexible.
15 . The array of claim 14 , wherein the links are between some modules in the same row and between some modules in separate rows.
16 . The array of claim 15 further comprising a means to interconnect the modules in a series-connected string.
17 . The array of claim 16 , wherein the series-connected string extends along at least two rows of adjacent or closely adjacent modules and the string has terminal ends with a distance between ends less than a lengthwise dimension of the string modules.
18 . The array of claim 17 , wherein the sting uses the at least two rows to route the series connections so that a string starting with a first end termination extends along a direction of the at least two rows and returns along an opposite direction of the at least two rows.
19 . The array of claim 1 , further comprising electrical interconnections between the modules to form series-connected strings, wherein the strings extend between 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.