Photovoltaic membrane system

In combination:

• a building having a building envelope that includes a roof deck and a layer of roofing membrane material;
• at least one photovoltaic cell;
• and
• a thermal barrier disposed between said at least one photovoltaic cell and the roof deck of the roof so that the thermal barrier is associated with the building envelope while isolating the at least one photovoltaic cell from the building envelope;
• said thermal barrier having upper and lower surfaces and being comprised of a material that substantially inhibits thermal transmission from the at least one photovoltaic cell to the building envelope;
• a roof membrane layer extending along said lower surface and including at least one fold whereby said roof membrane layer also extends along said upper surface;
• and
• an air channel assembly disposed between said at least one photovoltaic cell and said thermal barrier.

A photovoltaic membrane system for use on the roof of a building that includes a roof deck, the system comprising:

• a layer of roofing membrane material;
• at least one photovoltaic cell;
• a thermal barrier disposed between said at least one photovoltaic cell and said layer of roofing membrane material so that the thermal barrier isolates the at least one photovoltaic cell from the roof deck;
• a first roof membrane layer disposed between said at least one photovoltaic cell and said thermal barrier;
• a second roof membrane layer disposed between said thermal barrier and said layer of roofing membrane material;
• and
• an air channel between said at least one photovoltaic cell and said thermal barrier.