SOLAR ENERGY SHADE STRUCTURE

• US 20160365826A1
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strategic Solar Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Strategic Solar Energy LLC
• Inventors: DeBartolo, Jack III, Boscamp, Robert L., Headley, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 10/08 of a plurality of similar rigid parts, e.g. slabs, lamellae E04F10/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/00 Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/13 Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses F24S25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, solar energy shade structures and methods of design and revenue generation are disclosed. These systems comprise structures capable of supporting solar panel at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. These systems may be installed in confined spaces. These systems also comprise structures that are customizable, allowing an installation to be configured with a desired lighting and environmental effect. The methods discussed herein describe processes for achieving desired design effects based on natural elements. Moreover, the methods discussed herein describe processes for reducing the costs of generating solar energy and/or reducing the costs of providing a solar structure.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A solar energy shade structure, comprising:

a planar solar panel support structure that contiguously covers at least two areas of different area types, wherein the at least two areas of different area types comprise;

parking spaces and driving aisles located between the parking spaces, and wherein the planar solar panel support structure is at least 64 feet long by 64 feet wide, laid out in a contiguous grid over a parking lot;

a plurality of solar panels, the planar solar panel support structure supporting each of the plurality of solar panels, wherein a majority of the plurality of solar panels are inclined relative to the planar solar panel support structure and are fixed at an angle that is inclined relative to a horizontal plane;

a plurality of vertical supports, connected to the planar solar panel support structure for supporting the planar solar panel support structure elevated above a surface.

3. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein the planar solar panel support structure also contiguously covers a third area of a different area type comprising walkways.

4. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein the solar energy shade structure has a high panel density defined in that an arrangement of the plurality of solar panels is uninterrupted by service or access lanes.

5. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are fixed at an angle that would be non-optimal for energy generation in each individual panel of the majority of the plurality of solar panels, but results in optimal power density for the entire solar energy shade structure.

6. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein the fixed angle is between 5 degrees and 15 degrees, wherein the fixed angle is non-optimal for generating energy in favor of creating shade.

7. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein the plurality of solar panels are attached to the planar solar panel support structure such that they can be installed, serviced, and removed from below the planar solar panel support structure, and wherein a height of the planar solar panel support structure, as measured between the surface and a bottom side of the planar solar panel support structure, is at least 18 feet.

8. The solar energy shade structure of claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of solar panels is a front panel, and another of the plurality of solar panels is a rear panel, and wherein fixing the front panel at a fixed angle that is inclined between 5 degrees and 15 degrees relative to level increases the panel density in the direction of the front to back panels over the panel density in the same direction when panels are inclined at an angle that is optimal for the individual panel energy generation.

9. A solar energy shade structure, comprising:

a contiguous solar panel support structure for supporting a plurality of solar panels, wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure is at least 64 feet long and at least 64 feet wide, and wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure is supported by a plurality of vertical supports above a surface;

wherein a majority of the plurality of solar panels are supported by the contiguous solar panel support structure at a fixed angle, wherein the fixed angle is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are inclined relative to the contiguous solar panel support structure; and

wherein the solar energy shade structure has a high panel density defined in that an arrangement of the plurality of solar panels is uninterrupted by service or access lanes.

10. The solar energy shade structure of claim 9, wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure is a contiguous planar structure over more than one area type, wherein the area types comprise:

parking spots, driveways between parking spots, aisles, walkways, and public gathering areas.

11. The solar energy shade structure of claim 9, wherein the fixed angle is between 5 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the fixed angle is non-optimal for generating energy in favor of creating shade, and wherein a height of the contiguous solar panel support structure, as measured between the surface and a bottom side of the contiguous solar panel support structure, is at least 18 feet.

12. The solar energy shade structure of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of solar panels is a front panel, and another of the plurality of solar panels is a rear panel, and wherein fixing the front panel at the fixed angle that is inclined between 5 degrees and 15 degrees relative to level increases a panel density in the direction of the front to back panels over the panel density in the same direction when panels are inclined at an angle that is optimal for the individual panel energy generation.

13. The solar energy shade structure of claim 9, further comprising a retaining mechanism configured to attach a solar panel of the plurality of solar panels to the contiguous solar panel support structure, wherein the retaining mechanism is accessible from underneath the solar panel for attaching and detaching solar panels, from the contiguous solar panel support structure, from beneath the solar panel, and wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure comprises openings through which the solar panel can be passed when installing or removing the solar panel, the solar panel being rotatable such that the solar panel can be passed through the openings between a top side of contiguous the solar panel support structure and a bottom side of the contiguous solar panel support structure when installing or removing the solar panel.

14. The solar energy shade structure of claim 9, wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are fixed at an angle that would be non-optimal for energy generation in each individual panel of the majority of the plurality of solar panels, but results in optimal power density for the entire solar energy shade structure.

15. A solar energy shade structure, comprising:

a contiguous solar panel support structure for supporting a plurality of solar panels, wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure is at least 64 feet long and at least 64 feet wide, and wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure is supported by a plurality of vertical supports above a surface;

wherein a majority of the plurality of solar panels are supported by the contiguous solar panel support structure at a fixed angle, wherein the fixed angle is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are inclined relative to a plane containing the contiguous solar panel support structure; and

wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are fixed at an angle that would be non-optimal for energy generation in each individual panel of the majority of the plurality of solar panels, but results in optimal power density for the entire solar energy shade structure.

16. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, wherein the solar energy shade structure is configured for installation over a parking lot having a first group of parking spaces, a second group of parking spaces, and a drive aisle between the first group of parking spaces and the second group of parking spaces, wherein the solar energy shade structure contiguously covers the first group of parking spaces, the second group of parking spaces and the drive aisle with an arrangement of the plurality of solar panels that is uninterrupted by the drive aisle, and is configured such that the solar energy shade structure, with the exception of the plurality of vertical supports, does not obstruct a pedestrian'"'"'s view of store front signage when the pedestrian and the store front signage are proximate to the solar panel system.

17. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, wherein a plurality of inverters are located under the contiguous solar panel support structure.

18. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, further comprising:

a retaining mechanism configured to attach a solar panel of the plurality of solar panels to the contiguous solar panel support structure, wherein the retaining mechanism is accessible from underneath the solar panel for attaching and detaching solar panels, from the contiguous solar panel support structure, from beneath the solar panel, and wherein the contiguous solar panel support structure comprises openings through which the solar panel can be passed when installing or removing the solar panel, the solar panel being rotatable such that the solar panel can be passed through the openings between a top side of the contiguous solar panel support structure and a bottom side of the contiguous solar panel support structure when installing or removing the solar panel.

19. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, wherein the solar energy shade structure has a high panel density defined in that an arrangement of the plurality of solar panels is uninterrupted by service or access lanes.

20. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, wherein the majority of the plurality of solar panels are fixed at an angle that is inclined between 5 degrees and 15 degrees relative to level.

21. The solar energy shade structure of claim 15, wherein a height of the contiguous solar panel support structure, as measured between the surface and a bottom side of the contiguous solar panel support structure, is at least 18 feet.