Photovoltaic mounting system

[1] These mounting systems generally enable retrofitting of solar panels on roofs or as part of the structure of the building (called BIPV).

For example, rooftop PV module at the tropics provides highest annual energy yield when inclination of panel surface is close to horizontal direction.

[7] The solar array of a PV system can be mounted on rooftops, generally with a few inches gap and parallel to the surface of the roof.

In all cases of retrofits particular consideration to weather sealing is necessary There are many low-weight designs for PV systems that can be used on either sloped or flat roofs (e.g. plastic wedges or the PV-pod), most however, rely on a type of extruded aluminum rails (e.g. Unirac).

The PV array consist of solar modules held in place by racks or frames that are attached to ground-based mounting supports.

There are ground mounts at the residential and commercial levels, but the systems are simply smaller and the number of PV modules per column may be less (e.g.

This is not true globally, as for example in Togo, metal racks still cost less per installed unit power even with a lower tilt angle allowing for smaller wood beams.

[4] The relative price of wood to metal radically shifts the optimal PV racking material throughout the world.

[17] Solar panels can be mounted on elevated racking so they can share space with other land uses, such as parking lots.

They sense the direction of the Sun and tilt or rotate the modules as needed for maximum exposure to the light.

Even though such installations will not produce the maximum possible average power from the individual solar panels, the cost of the panels is now usually cheaper than the tracking mechanism and they can provided more economically valuable power during morning and evening peak demands than north or south facing systems.

If the panels are mounted at an angle steeper than normal patio covers, the support structures may require additional strengthening.

[39] The installed capacity of PVNBs deployed on noise barriers in a single state is comparable to the installed capacities of the largest solar farms in the U.S. and yet due to the unique mounting of PVNB, such systems provide better land utilization ratios for energy production than conventional solar PV farms.

[40] Because of reduced racking costs PVNB is one of the cheapest ways to implement large scale grid-connected PV installations.