[RE-wrenches] Ideas and racking systems for "stowing" ground mount PV array during snowy winter?

[Jeff Clearwater]

Hi Blake,

I'm curious why the assumption that the snow will destroy the array - 
how about 3 rails instead of 2 under the modules?

> Blake Gleason via RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> March 26, 2022 at 8:39 AM
> Hi all,
>
> I think there's a lot of experience on this list with PV in snowy regions.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has ideas and/or specific hardware/racking 
> systems to allow for easy "stowing" (in vertical or near-vertical 
> position) or "seasonal removal" of the ground mount PV modules for the 
> winter (snow) season?  Or ideas for a completely different approach to 
> solving the challenge I'm facing?
>
> I'm planning a new off-grid system in the Sierra (around 6000') for a 
> small commercial community center facility.  The facility is 
> accessible and in use only during the summer months.  So, I want to 
> optimize production for the summer, and also avoid having the array 
> destroyed by the heavy Sierra snow during the winter.
>
> To further paint the picture, here are some more details and constraints:
>
> - System size: 23kW (likely 48 Silfab 490 mods)
> - Must be ground mount (beautiful very tall trees completely 
> surrounding all roof options)
> - Must be relatively low profile, visually.  Pole mount not an option
> - Ideally one clean rectangular array 4x12 mods (13' x 90') or two 4x6 
> arrays (13' x 45')
> - Array tilt: 10-15 deg (summer use only, must be low-profile)
>
> There is a caretaker who has a seasonal crew, and could be trained to 
> "stow" the array each season as long as that process is relatively 
> straightforward.
>
> At one end of the spectrum, it could be as simple as disconnecting and 
> un-installing all of the modules to store them in a stack underneath 
> the nearby deck for the winter.  I'd like to think there might be a 
> more "elegant" solution (and less labor intensive, and less wear and 
> tear on the modules over the years).  I wondered if there's a clever 
> way to "drop" the modules to a near-vertical orientation so they could 
> remain in place during the winter (some kind of hinge at the top and 
> release at the bottom).  I guess this might require individual rows of 
> modules instead of one large array.
>
> (As a bonus, I'd like to keep about four mods (out of the 48) 
> operational through the winter for battery maintenance and a few 
> incidental loads.  These could be vertically mounted on the south side 
> of one of the buildings, above the typical snow drift level, for example.)
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions, ideas, things you've tried that 
> haven't worked, etc!!
>
> Best,
> Blake
>
> -- 
>
> Blake Gleason, PE | Employee Owner
> Director of Innovation and Technical Excellence
> O: 510-845-2997 x128
> C: 510-867-5878
>
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>
>
>
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