Lightweight, self-ballasting photovoltaic roofing assembly

A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of spacers configured for disposal on top of a building roof;
• a plurality of photovoltaic modules having sides and disposed on top of said spacers to form a photovoltaic array;
• and
• said spacers:
• being arranged in a geometry which generally follows the sides of said photovoltaic modules;
• and
• having openings that are between about 5% and 50% of the length of at least two sides of each photovoltaic module;
• whereby said geometry enables said photovoltaic assembly to resist forces of wind uplift.

A photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of a roofing membrane;
• a plurality of spacers configured for disposal on top of said insulation blocks;
• a plurality of photovoltaic modules having sides and disposed on top of said spacers to form a photovoltaic array;
• and
• said spacers:
• being arranged in a geometry which generally follows the sides of said photovoltaic modules;
• and
• having openings that are between 5% and 50% of the length of at least two sides of each photovoltaic module;
• whereby said geometry enables said photovoltaic assembly to resist forces of wind uplift.

A photovoltaic roofing assembly comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, each said photovoltaic assembly comprising:
• a photovoltaic module having upper, lower, and lateral sides and having upper and lower surfaces;
• and
• a variable-height spacer secured to the lower surface of the photovoltaic module so to orient said photovoltaic module at an angle with said lateral sides extending downwardly from said upper side to said lower side, said angle being about 5.degree.-30.degree. from horizontal;
• said spacer sized and configured to define:
• a tapered open region beneath said lower surface;
• and
• access openings along said upper and lower sides fluidly coupling said open region to said upper surface;
• whereby wind uplift forces are resisted when said photovoltaic assembly is mounted to a support surface;
• and
• means for interengaging adjacent photovoltaic assemblies into an array of photovoltaic assemblies, said array defining a perimeter.

A method of making a photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising the following steps:

• joining a spacer to a photovoltaic module;
• sizing and positioning said spacer to provide an open region beneath said photovoltaic module and openings into said open region on at least two sides of said photovoltaic module to reduce wind uplift forces on the photovoltaic module;
• joining an insulation layer to said spacer to create a three-part integral assembly;
• and
• installing in the field said three-part integral assembly as a layer on top of a roofing membrane without forming penetrations through a roof surface;
• whereby the completed assembly resists the forces of wind uplift.

A method of making a photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising the following steps:

• joining a spacer to a photovoltaic module to create a two-part integral assembly;
• sizing and positioning said spacer to provide an open region beneath said photovoltaic module and openings into said open region to reduce wind uplift forces on the photovoltaic module;
• configuring said spacer to support said photovoltaic module in a manner to form said open region as a tapered open region;
• positioning said openings on at least two sides of said photovoltaic module, said two sides being opposite sides of said photovoltaic module, said tapered open region tapering between said openings on said two opposite sides;
• installing in the field said two-part integral assembly as a layer above a roofing membrane;
• whereby the completed assembly resists the forces of wind uplift.

A photovoltaic assembly comprising:

• an array of interlocking photovoltaic units, said array having a perimeter, each said photovoltaic unit comprising:
• a photovoltaic module having an upper surface;
• an insulation layer;
• a spacer coupling the photovoltaic module and the insulation layer and defining an open region therebetween;
• and
• an access opening fluidly coupling said upper surface of said photovoltaic module and the open region;
• and
• said array having a weight of about two to four pounds per square foot;
• whereby the configuration of the photovoltaic assembly resists wind uplift without the need for roof surface penetrating elements.

A method for making a photovoltaic roofing assembly comprising the following steps:

• selecting a photovoltaic unit having an outer photovoltaic module, an insulation layer, and a spacer coupling the photovoltaic module and insulation layer to define an open region therebetween, the outer photovoltaic module having an outer surface;
• the selecting step comprising the step of selecting a photovoltaic unit weighing no more than about four pounds per square foot;
• placing a plurality of said photovoltaic units on a roof surface without securing the units to the roof surface to form an array of said photovoltaic units;
• said selecting and placing steps further comprising the step of providing at least one access opening for each said photovoltaic unit fluidly coupling the outer surface of said photovoltaic module and said open region;
• and
• surrounding the array with a perimeter assembly without securing the perimeter assembly to the roof surface.