Ballasted roof and ground mounted solar panel racking system

A racking system for a solar panel comprising:

• a ballast pan having a base and first and second sides extending from opposite ends of the base, wherein the second side extends higher than the first side;
• a mounting strut having a first section extending along the first side of the ballast pan such that the first side of the ballast pan extends along at least a quarter of the length of the first section of the strut, a second section running at an angle relative to the base of the ballast pan, and a third section extending along the second side of the ballast pan such that the second side of the ballast pan extends along at least a quarter of the length of the third section of the strut, wherein a first gap is defined between an end of the first side of the ballast pan and the second section of the strut and a second gap is defined between an end of the second side of the ballast pan and the second section of the strut;
• one or more ballast blocks disposed on the ballast pan;
• a foam board disposed under the ballast pan;
• and
• wherein the solar panel is a frameless solar panel secured to the mounting strut with a plurality of retaining clips.

A method for mounting a solar module on a surface, the method comprising:

• disposing a ballast pan on the surface, the ballast pan having a base and first and second sides extending from opposite ends of the base, wherein the second side extends higher than the first side;
• providing a mounting strut having a first section extending along the first side of the ballast pan such that the first side of the ballast pan extends along at least a quarter of the length of the first section of the strut, a second section running at an angle relative to the base of the ballast pan, and a third section extending along the second side of the ballast pan such that the second side of the ballast pan extends along at least a quarter of the length of the third section of the strut, wherein a first gap is defined between an end of the first side of the ballast pan and the second section of the strut and a second gap is defined between an end of the second side of the ballast pan and the second section of the strut;
• securing the mounting strut to the first and second sides of the ballast pan;
• placing one or more ballast blocks on the ballast pan;
• and
• attaching the solar module to the mounting strut with a plurality of retaining clips.