Solar canopy system

A method for calculating a reduced maximum load on a solar panel support structure, the method comprising:

• arranging a first solar panel at a first angle relative to the solar panel support structure, wherein the first solar panel is at a first non-parallel orientation to the solar panel support structure;
• arranging a second solar panel at a second angle relative to the solar panel support structure, wherein the second solar panel is at a second non-parallel orientation to the solar panel support structure;
• analyzing the solar panel support structure, the first solar panel, and the second solar panel in a wind tunnel;
• and
• collecting wind tunnel pressure data by simultaneously measuring a pressure at a plurality of pressure taps embedded in a surface of the first solar panel and a surface of the second solar panel;
• and
• calculating the reduced maximum load using the wind tunnel pressure data.

A solar panel assembly support structure, comprising:

• a post having a post bottom end and a post top end opposite the post bottom end;
• a cross beam attached to and supported by the post top end;
• and
• a plurality of purlins extending between the cross beam and a first solar panel and between the cross beam and a second solar panel;
• wherein the first solar panel has a first non-parallel orientation to the plurality of purlins;
• wherein the second solar panel has a second non-parallel orientation to the plurality of purlins;
• wherein the first non-parallel orientation is at an oblique angle to the second non-parallel orientation;
• and
• wherein a calculated maximum load for the solar panel assembly support structure is less than a standard design maximum load for a standard solar panel assembly support structure, wherein the standard solar panel assembly support structure supports a plurality of solar panels with a parallel orientation to a standard plurality of support purlins of the standard solar panel assembly support structure.