SolarCity has launched a flat roof solar mounting solution that is claimed to be twice as fast to install and can generate significantly more solar electricity from each rooftop than alternatives for the commercial market. The ZS Peak mounting system provides an innovative snap-together system to simplify and accelerate installation.
Problem
Maximizing commercial flat rooftop space for PV panels often has to take into consideration loading, shading hazards and maintenance access, limiting the overall size of the PV system. The increase in panels per roof is particularly valuable in the commercial market, as conventional flat-roof solar systems typically power less than half of a commercial building's load.
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Solution
Following-on from the highly respected residential rooftop mounting systems from Zep, SolarCity estimates that ZS Peak can increase generation capacity on flat roof buildings by 20-50% per building, without requiring any penetrations. The system's dense, east-west layout structure will allow SolarCity to fit up to 20% more solar panels on standard roofs and up to 50% more panels on lightweight roofs, such as those commonly found on warehouses. The increase in panels per roof is particularly valuable in the commercial market, as conventional flat-roof solar systems typically power less than half of a commercial building's load.
Applications
Commercial flat roof mounting system, including
Platform
ZS Peak's east-west orientation allows installers to fit more solar panels on each roof than standard south-facing systems. The system allows the capture of peak power production throughout a longer period of the day. By lengthening power production time and eliminating the typical mid-day spike of standard solar systems it can also make more efficient use of solar inverters to further reduce costs for customers. ZS Peak has also improved on the aerodynamics of conventional systems that it can be installed as a lightweight, non-penetrating system on many roofs that would otherwise require the solar panels to be bolted down.
Availability
SolarCity is currently installing its first project with ZS Peak and expects to begin installing the product in volume in January, 2015. Currently US markets only.
