Solar Panel Roof Mounting
Do gaps between panels on solar parking canopies build up with ice in the winter?
I see a lot of solar canopies being erected over parking lots and multi-story parking garages. Many of them have the solar panels mounted directly on the structure with no roofing (you can see the underside of the panels when looking up from the parking lot below). There’s a small gap between each panel. I’ve never been to one of these while it’s raining but I guess you get “sheets” of rain coming down in a grid rectangular grid pattern. I don’t think that’s a good idea but what happens in the winter. Do you get a build up of icicles at these gaps and on the structure below as the drips freeze? That could be extremely dangerous.
Reference: http://www.geopeakenergy.com/commercial/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83
Location: New Jersey
Anytime you have dripping water and subfreezing temps you may get icicles.
The gaps help by giving the water and ice somewhere to go so that the expansion pressure does not cause damage to the panels. When the sun hits the panels ice and snow will often melt enough to slide off.
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