Flat Tile Solar Panels

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 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.