In late 2003 Eastwood Energy developed the 142 kW PV system shown below in Figure 1. Eastwood engineered the entire PV system, arranged project financing, processed the permits, selected and purchased the modules and electrical equipment, and managed the installation and start-up.

The 58-year old building has a flat roof capped with tar and gravel over a bitumen membrane substrate. Eastwood determined that available mounting systems were inadequate and expensive. It therefore decided to develop its own system.

Overhead view of Richmond roof top and completed installation

Michael Huber, Eastwood’s Director of Engineering and Production, designed and engineered the new system, which was installed by Bleyco, Inc, a local electrical contractor, using an IBEW crew of 2-3 workers. They assembled the system easily and quickly on the roof without preassembly or special tools.