Roofing products, photovoltaic roofing elements and systems using them

A method for installing a photovoltaic element on a roofing product, the roofing product being disposed on a roof, the roofing product having a top surface and comprising

• a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more granule-coated zones thereon capable of acting as a receptor zone or an exposure zone, each granule-coated zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements,
• an adhesive suitable for securing photovoltaic elements to one or more of the granule-coated zones, the adhesive capable of forming a bond to the granules and the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate and to the bottom surface of the photovoltaic elements, the adhesive being disposed in the one or more granule-coated zones, and
• a releasable liner covering the adhesive,
• wherein the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate in the granule-coated zone on which the adhesive and the photovoltaic element are disposed is recessed from the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate in the area adjacent to the granule-coated zone;
• the method comprising
• while the roofing product is disposed on the roof, removing the releasable liner from the adhesive;
• then
• disposing one or more photovoltaic elements on the adhesive disposed at the top surface of the roofing product in the one or more granule-coated zones of the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate, thereby adhering the photovoltaic elements to the flexible roofing substrate.

A method for installing a photovoltaic element on a roofing product, the roofing product being disposed on a roof, the roofing product having a top surface and comprising a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more granule-coated zones thereon capable of acting as a receptor zone or an exposure zone, each granule-coated zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, the method comprising

• while the roofing product is disposed on the roof, disposing on at least a portion of the one or more granule-coated zones of the roofing product an adhesive suitable for securing a photovoltaic element to one or more of the granule-coated zones, the adhesive being capable of forming a bond to the granules and the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate, the adhesive being disposed at the top surface of the roofing product;
• then
• disposing one or more photovoltaic elements on the adhesive disposed at the top surface of the roofing product in the one or more granule-coated zones of the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate, thereby adhering the photovoltaic elements to the flexible roofing substrate,
• wherein the average distance between the top of the granules and the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate in the granule-coated zone on which the adhesive and the photovoltaic element are disposed is substantially less than the average distance between the top of the granules and the top surface of the flexible roofing substrate in the inactive zone.