Abstract: An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array having a plurality of solar panels is supported on the ground at edge portions of the solar panels. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string, in which said at least one series-connected string extends along adjacent or closely adjacent solar panels along at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string.

Abstract: Edge blocks for a PV array comprising fastener or component holes for anchoring the array bonding the array and protecting array cabling. Edge blocks provide a favorable aerodynamic shape to help deflect incoming wind, the channel rainwater and to protect edge of the array. Methods having steps of placing modules contacting native topography or a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground in an array and holding the array together and down are also disclosed.

Abstract: An earth mount utility-scale solar photovoltaic array with modules on the ground. The site can have support regions with an elevation between ?20 cm and 40 cm of the ground. Implementations may include elevations between ?10 cm and 30 cm of the ground surface; more than one row of modules; connectors joining adjacent modules; modules flexibly joined in one or two dimensions; connectors joining 2-4 modules; connectors electrically bonding some modules to adjacent modules; contact points controlling a direction of a ray normal to a plane of the modules; a dc output, and a DC:AC output voltage ratio is 1.02, 1.9, 1.21.8, or 1.31.7. These or other implementations may configure the module arrangement such that the arrangement can withstanding wind speeds greater than 150 mph without containing stowing or extreme dampening functionality. Implementations of the described techniques may include solar arrays and related methods.

Abstract: In some implementations, the power plant may include an array having 200 or more modules. In addition, the array may have conterminous modules. Arrays may include modules having a contact point that rests on the ground or a contact surface of one or more structures. In some implementations, 90% of the power-plant arrays have 800 or more modules. In some plants, the ground supports 90 percent of the conterminous modules. In some plants, neither the plants nor the arrays do not contain stowing functionality or extreme dampening functionality.

Abstract: Leading-edge units for a PV array comprising fastener or component holes for anchoring the array bonding the array and protecting array cabling. The leading-edge units provide a favorable aerodynamic shape to help deflect incoming wind, the channel rainwater and to protect the edge of the array. Methods having steps of placing modules contacting native topography or a smoothed or substantially flat portion of the ground in an array and holding the array together and down are also disclosed.

Abstract: An earth-mount utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has modules supported on the ground to establish an earth orientation of the modules. These modules sit in a closely adjacent arrangement or an abutting arrangement of module rows. One general aspect includes a utility-scale group of modules that contains greater than 800 conterminous PV modules in which more than 80% of the modules are earth-mounted. Implementations may include the array having one or more of the following features: eight groups of modules; no connection to an inverter with an ac output; no stowing functionality or extreme dampening functionality. Implementations of the described techniques may include solar arrays and related methods.

Abstract: Utility-scale photovoltaic panels or modules for flat-on-ground mounting or mounting without a support structure between the module and the ground that have been adapted by including air vents or weep hole in a portion of the module frame. In operation, the vent holes allow air under the modules to escape if the module array is exposed to flooding. Letting under-module air to move through the weep holes lowers the buoyancy of the modules to prevent flood exposure from floating the modules. Also, weep holes or air vents allow air pressure equalization between the top surface of the module and the region under the PV module such as low pressures generated by heavy wind passing across the face of the array.

Abstract: A PV module alignment or attachment system and method that contains a root cable that interacts with the modules along rows or columns of an array of the modules. In some versions, the cable passes through frames of the modules in a row or column and maintains the module-to-module height between modules. The cable need not be metallic. In some versions, the cable passes through clips attached to the module substrate directly or to module frame members.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the grounds to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the grounds to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: An earth mount-enabled utility-scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground s to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a total distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: A site is prepared for the installation of solar panels by preparing a ground area by smoothing or grading and contouring to provide a surface sufficiently level to permit resting the solar panels in direct contact with and supported on the ground so as to establish an azimuth-independent earth orientation of the solar panels. The soil is embossed in a pattern corresponding to a desired pattern by repeatedly stamping the soil in a pattern with a soil stamping device capable of impressing the desired pattern on the soil. The pattern is sized such that the solar panels fit into the impressed pattern resulting from the embossing of the soil.

Abstract: An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array having a plurality of solar panels is supported on the ground at edge portions of the solar panels. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string, in which said at least one series-connected string extends along adjacent or closely adjacent solar panels along at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string.

Abstract: An earth mount enabled utility scale solar photovoltaic array has plural rows of solar panels supported on the ground so as to establish an earth orientation of the solar panels. Edge portions of the panels rest on a ground support area and provide mechanical support, and an end curb member abuts at least one edge of the arrangement. The panels are interconnected in at least one series-connected string extending in at least two rows so that the string has a distance between terminal ends of the series connection less than a lengthwise dimension of the solar panels constituting the string, routed to reduce “home run” connections at the end of the string.

Abstract: A plasma treatment system for treating a workpiece with a downstream-type plasma. The processing chamber of the plasma treatment system includes a chamber lid having a plasma cavity disposed generally between a powered electrode and a grounded plate, a processing space separated from the plasma cavity by the grounded plate, and a substrate support in the processing space for holding the workpiece. A direct plasma is generated in the plasma cavity. The grounded plate is adapted with openings that remove electrons and ions from the plasma admitted from the plasma cavity into the processing space to provide a downstream-type plasma of free radicals. The openings may also eliminate line-of-sight paths for light between the plasma cavity and processing space. In another aspect, the volume of the processing chamber may be adjusted by removing or inserting at least one removable sidewall section from the chamber lid.