Earth mount utility-scale photovoltaic array with edge portions resting on ground support area

Abstract

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.