Electrically grounding metal roofing shingles with photovoltaic systems

A method, comprising:

• obtaining a photovoltaic module and a plurality of metal roofing shingles,
• wherein the photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell,
• wherein the plurality of metal roofing shingles includes at least a first metal roofing shingle, a second metal roofing shingle, and a third metal roofing shingle,
• wherein each of the plurality of metal roofing shingles includes a metal layer,
• wherein the metal layer includes a conductive metal material,
• wherein the metal layer includes a side lap;
• installing the photovoltaic module on a roof deck;
• installing the first metal roofing shingle in a first row on the roof deck, adjacent to the photovoltaic module;
• installing the second metal roofing shingle in the first row on the roof deck, adjacent to the first metal roofing shingle,
• wherein the side lap of the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle overlays and is in electrical contact with the side lap of the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, to form a first grounding path;
• and
• installing the third metal roofing shingle in a second row on the roof deck,
• wherein the second row is adjacent the first row on the roof deck,
• wherein the third metal roofing shingle is in electrical contact with the first metal roofing shingle, to form a second grounding path;
• and
• obtaining a washer, wherein the washer includes a through hole, wherein the installing the second metal roofing shingle includes positioning a washer between the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, and the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle;
• and
• disposing a fastener through each of the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle, the through hole of the washer, and the roof deck.

A roofing system, comprising:

• a roof deck;
• a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on the roof deck,
• wherein each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes at least one solar cell;
• and
• a plurality of metal roofing shingles installed on the roof deck adjacent to the plurality of photovoltaic modules,
• wherein the plurality of metal roofing shingles includes at least a first metal roofing shingle, a second metal roofing shingle, and a third metal roofing shingle,
• wherein the first metal roofing shingle and the second metal roofing shingle are installed in a first row on the roof deck,
• wherein the third metal roofing shingle is installed in a second row on the roof deck,
• wherein the second row is adjacent the first row on the roof deck,
• wherein each of the plurality of metal roofing shingles includes a metal layer,
• wherein the metal layer includes a conductive metal,
• wherein the metal layer includes a side lap,
• wherein the side lap of the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle overlays and is in electrical contact with the side lap of the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, to form a first grounding path,
• wherein the third metal roofing shingle is in electrical contact with the first metal roofing shingle, to form a second grounding path;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners,
• wherein the plurality of fasteners includes at least a first fastener, a second fastener, and a third fastener,
• wherein each of the plurality of fasteners includes:
• a fastener head,
• a fastener shaft extending from the fastener head, and
• at least one fastener barb extending from the fastener head,
• wherein the fastener shaft of the first fastener penetrates each of:
• the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle,
• the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle, and
• the roof deck,
• wherein the at least one fastener barb of the first fastener penetrates:
• the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, and
• the metal layer of the second metal roofing shingle,
• wherein the fastener shaft of the second fastener penetrates each of:
• the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle,
• the metal layer of the third metal roofing shingle, and
• the roof deck,
• wherein the at least one fastener barb of the second fastener penetrates:
• the metal layer of the first metal roofing shingle, and
• the metal layer of the third metal roofing shingle.