What happens to this structure when it snows?

[sheepfarmer]

I have been driving past this parking lot all summer as the construction has been taking place, and while I am thinking it is a dandy idea to make the acres of parking lots that the university owns do something useful, and more user friendly, I can't figure out how these inverted V roofs are going to work in the winter.

http://statenews.com/article/2017/0...ould-save-msu-10-million-in-electricity-costs

Anyone know what is going to happen to the roof with a snow load? If it slides into the space between the panels seems like it will make a big pile of ice. Grouse Feathers, know anything about this project or the company building it?

 

[skeets]

I dont think snow load will be much of an issue but I really doubt the numbers they came up with save 10 mill over 25 years. Somebody is not figuring in the amount of snow cover on the panels. Yeah some of the newer solar panels will work under adverse conditions but I don't think 18 or 24 inches of snow on them will produce much power.
And there was no number to the outlay and instillation and equipment, and upkeep. Somebody is gona get rich off this deal,,just MHO

 

[sheepfarmer]

The State News is the student newspaper, so one doesn't expect too much unfortunately, but it had the best picture of the structures. Maybe they'll hire the smallest undergrads they can find to get up there and sweep them off.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Some of the newer Snow / Ice cover resistant panels have heaters built into them.
They know when there is any snow / Ice build up and they use the power that they make or other power to heat up.

 

[Ridger]

It's a great idea, but it seems like it should have a gutter running down the center to collect rainfall and snow melt to drain out at each end. But then that would lead to another issue....cleaning out the gutters.

 

[BAP]

Looks like it could be a bear to clean up snow around without hitting the braces.

 

[skeets]

Thats true NIW ,however I wonder about the savings numbers. Some place like S Calf, I would say hell yeah that would be super, but Mich aint what you would call a place with very little cloud cover or very little snow, so in MHO, while it may work I dont think it would be a prime candidate for solar.. Either way I do wish them the very best with this and would really like to see just the outcome of this little project

 

[mattwithcats]

Solar panels get surprisingly hot, snow should melt easily...

Rutgers University has had panels in its parking lots for years, works great...

https://youtu.be/jGLzCG7lvWs

 

[car compulsive]

Davenport University in downtown Lansing has a similar v-shaped awning in front of the main entrance, but without solar panels. It survived the past few winters since it went up.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks Matt and Car Compulsive, that is encouraging. I didn't know the panels got hot. Sounds like the worst case scenario is icicles. I'd like to see it work well.