Evaluation of mounting mechanisms for the installation of lightweight PV systems on commercial rooftops

Lightweight PV (LPV) systems enable deployment of PV onto rooftops that are load constrained (maximum distributed load of <; 3 psf). The total system weight is reduced by eliminating traditional racking components and ballasts, and by reducing the weight of modules. PVMC has surveyed lightweight PV systems for commercial rooftops that are deployed in the market today, and has broadly classified these systems as: a) Mechanical (Rigid PV clamped to metal roofs), b) Direct attach (Flex PV adhered to metal roofs), c) Sacrificial layer (Flex PV adhered to membrane roofs), and d) Plastic mold (Rigid PV clamped to membrane roofs). PVMC is developing advanced mounting concepts that incorporate emerging, light-weight and frameless PV technologies into the above classification using low cost, commercially available adhesives and clamps.