Photovoltaic systems, methods for installing photovoltaic systems, and kits for installing photovoltaic systems

A photovoltaic roofing system disposed on a roof deck having an upper end and a lower end, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic elements contiguously disposed on the roof deck arranged in at least two horizontal rows such that no panel is disposed between substantially the entire area of the photovoltaic elements and the roof deck, the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements together having a top edge facing the upper end of the roof deck, a bottom edge facing the lower end of the roof deck, and two side edges, the one or more photovoltaic elements defining a photovoltaic area;
• a plurality of roofing elements disposed adjacent the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, along their side edges;
• side flashing disposed along the side edges of the contiguously-disposed photovoltaic elements, the side flashing having a flange facing away from the photovoltaic area at least partially disposed between a roofing element and the roof deck, and a structure at least partially disposed on the surface of the photovoltaic element or at least partially disposed between a photovoltaic element and the roof deck but not extending under substantially the entire photovoltaic element.