Abstract: Photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing wiring array for use with a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, the photovoltaic roofing wiring system including: a positive parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a positive connector; and a negative parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a negative connector. In some embodiments of the invention, the photovoltaic roofing wiring arrays are substantially prefabricated.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to roofing products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are disposed upon roofing elements such as shingles, tiles, shakes or slates. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing system comprising: a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements; a bus bar batten system extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system; a first plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on a butt region of one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each operatively engaged with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system; and a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements.

Abstract: Photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing wiring array for use with a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, the photovoltaic roofing wiring system including: a positive parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a positive connector; and a negative parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a negative connector. In some embodiments of the invention, the photovoltaic roofing wiring arrays are substantially prefabricated.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic systems. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic elements are disposed upon roofing elements such as shingles, tiles, shakes or slates.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photovoltaic roofing tiles and methods of manufacturing them. One aspect of the present invention is a photovoltaic roofing tile comprising: a polymeric carrier tile having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a photovoltaic element affixed to the polymeric carrier tile, the photovoltaic element having a bottom surface and a top surface having an active area. Another aspect of the invention is a method of making a photovoltaic roofing tile comprising inserting into a compression mold a polymeric tile preform having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a photovoltaic element, a surface of the photovoltaic element being disposed adjacent to a surface of the polymeric tile preform; compression molding the polymeric tile preform and the photovoltaic element together to form an unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile; and finishing the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile to provide the photovoltaic roofing tile.

Abstract: Photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing wiring array for use with a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, the photovoltaic roofing wiring system including: a positive parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a positive connector; and a negative parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a negative connector. In some embodiments of the invention, the photovoltaic roofing wiring arrays are substantially prefabricated.

Abstract: The present invention relates more particularly to roofing products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing substrate. In one aspect, the invention provides a roofing product including: a bituminous roofing substrate having a top surface; and roofing granules embedded in the top surface of the roofing substrate, wherein in at least one over-pressed zone of the roofing product, the roofing granules are embedded so that (a) the over-pressed zone exhibits a 0.20 gram loss or less in a rub test as described in ASTM D-4977; or (b) in the over-pressed zone the average granule embed volume fraction is at least 0.5; or (c) in the over-pressed zone, the average distance between the top of the roofing granules and the top surface of the bituminous roofing substrate is 1.0 mm or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is affixed to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate having a solar reflectivity of greater than 0.25, and one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing substrate. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate comprising a bituminous substrate, and a plurality of colored roofing granules disposed on the bituminous substrate, the roofing substrate having color within the color space of CIE Lab coordinates L* in the range of about 20 to about 20, a* in the range of about ?5 to about 5, and b* in the range of ?15 to about ?5; and one or more photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention includes photovoltaic devices and photovoltaic roofing elements comprising a photovoltaic element having an active face and an operating wavelength range; a polymer structure having (a) a bottom surface disposed on the active face of the photovoltaic element and (b) a top surface; and a plurality of granules disposed on the top surface of the polymer structure. Roofs including the photovoltaic devices and photovoltaic roofing elements of the present invention may be configured to have an aesthetically desirable appearance while retaining high photovoltaic efficiency.

Abstract: Photovoltaic wiring arrays and photovoltaic wiring systems suitable for use in rooftop photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a photovoltaic roofing wiring array for use with a plurality of photovoltaic roofing elements, the photovoltaic roofing wiring system including: a positive parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a positive connector; and a negative parallel wiring run comprising a main line and one or more connection branches pendant from the main line, each connection branch being terminated in a negative connector. In some embodiments of the invention, the photovoltaic roofing wiring arrays are substantially prefabricated.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to roofing products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a flexible roofing substrate having a top surface having an exposure area, the exposure area having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it, wherein the one or more receptor zones and/or the exposure area have a height of about eight inches.

Abstract: A photovoltaic roof covering comprising a collection of a plurality of elements in the form of tiles, shingles or panels, electrically connected to one another, a part of said elements being covered by the adjacent elements in the collection and a part or portion being exposed to the outside, said elements comprising a backing material comprising an interior face and an exterior face, a photovoltaic layer arranged at least over that portion of the exterior face of the backing material that is exposed to the outside in the collection, electrical conduction means positioned on each side of said photovoltaic layer and configured to collect the electrical current generated by said layer when it is exposed to light, said means in particular comprising a first connector connected to one electrical pole of the photovoltaic layer and a second connector connected to another electrical pole of the photovoltaic layer, said covering being characterized in that at least one of the connectors present on at least one of sai

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: a flexible roofing substrate; a photovoltaic element disposed on the flexible roofing substrate; and an electrical connector operatively coupled to the photovoltaic element, wherein the flexible roofing substrate has formed therein a recess shaped to at least partially receive the electrical connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic systems and roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic roofing element including: a roofing substrate; one or more photovoltaic elements disposed on the roofing substrate; a first electrical terminus and a second electrical terminus, the one or more photovoltaic elements being connected in series between the first electrical terminus and the second electrical terminus; a third electrical terminus and a fourth electrical terminus; and a return electrical path connecting the third electrical terminus to the fourth electrical terminus.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing elements having a structured profile. For example, one aspect of the invention is a structured photovoltaic roofing element including: a structured roofing substrate presenting on its top-facing surface a plurality of differently-shadowable zones; and a plurality of bypassable photovoltaic elements, each of the bypassable photovoltaic elements comprising a bypass diode connected in parallel with a photovoltaic element, each of the bypassable photovoltaic elements being disposed in a differently-shadowable zone; wherein one or more of the bypassable photovoltaic elements is disposed in a different differently-shadowable zone than one or more of the other bypassable photovoltaic elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays, systems and roofing products in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements are electrically interconnected. One aspect of the present invention is a photovoltaic array including a plurality of pods of photovoltaic elements, the pods being electrically interconnected in series, each pod comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements electrically interconnected in parallel, the photovoltaic elements of each pod having voltages within 20% of one another and at least one photovoltaic element of each pod having an amperage at least 20% greater than the amperage of another photovoltaic element of the pod.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.