The invention addressed herein relates to an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules. Under further aspects, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing such an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules .

The use of solar energy to produce electricity is widely accepted as one of the key elements required to reduce mankind's dependency on fossil fuels. Ideal places to install photovoltaic panels are on building envelopes, such as roofs and outer walls of buildings, where solar light can impinge onto the photovoltaic panels. Other than most conventional elements used for the construction of building envelopes, photovoltaic panels are critical to transport and handle. This leads to complex procedures in the

construction process and thereby to increased financial efforts in construction of buildings carrying photovoltaic modules on their envelopes, as e.g. on their roofs or on their outer walls.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction of building envelopes carrying photovoltaic modules. This object is achieved by an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to claim 1.

The arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention is adapted to be lifted in one piece towards and onto a building

construction. The arrangement comprises a geometrically stable structural framework extending along an area of at least 5 square meters. The arrangement further comprises solar energy photovoltaic converter modules. The solar energy photovoltaic converter modules, later also briefly called photovoltaic modules, are directly or indirectly attached to the geometrically stable structural framework. The solar energy photovoltaic converter modules cover at least predominantly the area, along which the geometrically stable structural framework extends.

Thus, an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention may be used as building envelope element, which may be prefabricated away from the building. In case that the arrangement is used as wall or facade element, windows or doors may already be incorporated. The arrangement may than be lifted in one piece to its place of destination on the building. The geometrically stable structural framework provides a mechanical load-bearing structure providing bending and torsional stiffness to the arrangement. Due to the

geometrically stable structural framework, high enough bending and/or torsional stiffness of the whole arrangement can be achieved, such that the deformation of the

photovoltaic modules stays below the maximally allowed deformation during handling. A typical condition that needs to be fulfilled is keeping a deflection below 7 cm over a length of 10 m. The load that leads to this deflection may be the weight of the arrangement itself. Additional load resulting from the handling of the arrangement may

additionally be taken into account, such that the

photovoltaic modules on the arrangement are save during transport, lifting onto a building construction and final mounting on a building construction. A deflection due to bending and a deflection due to torsion is avoided. Thus, the arrangement according to the invention has the

advantage that irreversible deformation or destruction of element of the arrangement is avoided.

The geometrically stable structural framework may be implemented as a truss, i.e. a structure comprising

straight members whose ends are connected at joints. The structural framework may comprise beams. Elements of the structural framework may be connected rigidly or

articulated. In the latter case, elements may be connected in form of triangles to achieve geometrical stability of the structural framework. Single straight members of the geometrically stable structural framework, such as beams, may be oriented in a longitudinal, in a transversal or in a diagonal direction. Elements of the geometrically stable structural framework may be arranged in different layers parallel to the photovoltaic modules, the layers being arranged in distinct distances from the photovoltaic modules. The geometrically stable structural framework may be implemented as two parallel beams oriented in the

longitudinal direction of the arrangement. These beams take the major bending load occurs when the arrangement is lifted. In this case, it may be useful to add further elements having some intrinsic torsional stability to the arrangement .

The arrangement according to the present invention avoids that complicated installation processes need to be

performed on a roof or on a facade of a building. The arrangement according to the invention can be preassembled completely in a factory. Alternatively, the arrangement can be partially preassembled and the final assembly is made close to the construction site before lifting the

arrangement in one piece onto the building. Preassembling of the arrangement may include electrical cabling of the photovoltaic modules.

The arrangement is particularly useful if it comprises a plurality of photovoltaic modules, e.g. three to ten photovoltaic modules in a row or two-times-two arrays, two- times-three arrays or larger arrays of photovoltaic

modules. With the arrangement according to the present invention, the area covered by a single arrangement can be made large enough to build e.g. a pent roof of a detached house in one piece or one piece for each side of a ridged roof .

The arrangement according to the invention may be reused as a whole. For this purpose, the arrangement may be

detachably connected to a structure of a building, e.g. be means of screws. This may be useful for temporary buildings and temporary installations. Future reuse on the same building is feasible, too.

The statement that solar energy photovoltaic converter modules cover at least predominantly the area means that at least 50% of the area, along which the geometrically stable structural framework extends, is covered by photovoltaic modules .

Embodiments of the arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention are defined by the features of dependent claims 2 to 10.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the geometrically stable structural framework comprises a first and a second set of beams, wherein beams of the first set are oriented in a longitudinal direction and beams of the second set are oriented in a transversal direction and wherein beams of the first and the second set are mutually connected at crossings of the beams.

This embodiment is a simple to realize grid of

longitudinally and transversally arranged beams. Such a geometrically stable structure has significant bending stiffness and torsional stiffness. In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the geometrically stable structural framework comprises beams made of wood, in particular with a rectangular cross section, and/or the geometrically stable structural framework comprises beams made of metal, in particular with a T-shaped, H-shaped, Z- shaped, C-shaped or box-shaped cross section. The beams having features according to this embodiment provide the arrangement with a high bending stiffness and contribute relatively little weight to the arrangement. This embodiment is particularly suited, if the arrangement of photovoltaic modules is used as self-supporting

structure spanning large distances between supporting points of a building construction.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the arrangement further comprises anchoring means for anchoring the

arrangement to the structural work of a building.

Anchoring means may be realized with screws and or screw holes, possible placed in reinforced sections of the geometrically stable structural framework. Anchoring means may be protruding elements adapted to be cast into

concrete. Anchoring means may be adapted to be connected to a supporting point of a building construction. The anchoring means enable transmission of large mechanical load from the mechanical load-bearing structure of the arrangement, which it includes in form of the geometrically stable structural framework, to the structural work of a building on which the arrangement is mounted.

Additional anchoring means may be provided for fixing one arrangement according to this embodiment to a neighboring arrangement of photovoltaic modules. As an example, arrangements according to the inventions may be used to cover two sides of an existing saddle roof. An arrangement on one side of the saddle roof may be fixed to a further arrangement, which is placed on the other side of the saddle roof, by use of anchoring means in the region of the roof ridge. This way, no through holes through the roof are needed near to the ridge of the saddle roof, or only a limited amount of fixing means is needed at the ridge and/or the gutter level.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the arrangement further comprises a thermally isolating structure arranged in between and/or along and/or around the geometrically stable structural framework, the thermally isolating structure having a thickness of between 50 mm and 50 cm and having a thermal transmittance between 2.0 W m ^~2 K ^_1 and 0.001 W m-2 K ^"1 . This embodiment may be used as building element for

buildings optimized to low loss of heat, such as buildings fulfilling a minergy standard. Mounting of thermal

isolation and mounting of photovoltaic modules, which may be separate laborious steps, are combined in an efficient way, by lifting and mounting the present embodiment onto a building construction.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the arrangement further comprises a surface cover element in between the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules on one side and the geometrically stable structural framework and the thermally isolating structure on the other side, wherein the surface cover element extends along and is attached to the geometrically stable structural framework and supports the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules.

The surface cover element is in a sandwich position between the photovoltaic modules and thermally isolating structure. The surface cover element may establish a water-repellent layer, which protects the thermally isolating structure from rain, whereas the photovoltaic modules on the outer side of the surface cover element are exposed to sun and rain. The surface cover element may be made of metal, in particular of sheet metal. The surface cover element may comprise several layers, e.g. an upper metal layer and lower watertight barrier, e.g. comprising a plastic foil. The surface cover element may extend over the same area as the geometrically stable structural frame work. In

addition, it may have overlapping sections at the edges adapted to overlap with similar section of neighboring arrangements of the same type when arranged side by side on a building. This way, continuous roof or wall surfaces may be created by using a multiplicity of arrangements

according to the embodiment currently under discussion.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, the surface cover element defines an air gap between the thermally isolating structure and the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules .

The surface cover element may have first surface sections being in contact with a photovoltaic module and on an opposite side, surface sections being in proximity to the thermally isolating structure or in proximity to the geometrically stable structural framework, whereby

proximity may mean direct contact or separation by e.g. a watertight foil. Thereby the first surface sections and the second surface sections correspondingly define a first and second plane. The first and second plane may be parallel to each other and distant from each other, leaving space for air gaps in between the two planes. The surface cover element may comprise rigid material. The surface cover element may e.g. be a corrugated sheet metal. In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, beams of the first and the second set form a frame around the thermally isolating structure.

Such a frame of beams leads to a geometrically stable configuration. It further has the advantage that loose thermally isolating material may be used to form the thermally isolating structure. E.g., thermally isolating material in loose form may be blown into the frame.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction,

- the thermally isolating structure comprises, in

particular in form of a mattress, at least one of mineral wool, glass wool and lamb-wool, and/or

- the thermally isolating structure comprises a foam, in particular polyurethane foam, expanded polysterene foam, foam glass or wood-foam, and/or

- the thermally isolating structure comprises a vacuum isolation.

The materials and elements according to this embodiment all contribute to low thermal transmittance of the thermally isolating structure. Combinations among various of the materials and elements is conceivable.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, a guiding element for guiding a heat carrying medium is arranged between the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules and the

thermally isolating structure.

The heat carrying medium may e.g. be water and the guiding element may have the form of tubes arranged on the backside of the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules. Several guiding elements in form of straight lines may be arranged parallel to each other along the photovoltaic modules. A guiding element may have the form of a serpent line along a photovoltaic module. With the present embodiment, a hybrid collector for simultaneous use of photovoltaics and solar thermal power may be realized. Excess heat, which reduces the efficiency of the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules may efficiently carried away and may even be used to produce hot water, as an example.

In one embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the

preaddressed embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be addressed unless in contradiction, a planar element forms a surface of the arrangement opposite to the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules. In the mounted state on a building, the planar element of the arrangement according to the present embodiment faces towards the interior of the building, whereas the

photovoltaic modules face towards the exterior of the building. In the context of this invention, the planar element is an element, which mainly extends along a plane. Local deviations from a flat geometry, such as a wavy structure, shall not be interpreted as non-planar. An example for a planar element would e.g. be a corrugated metal sheet. The planar element may e.g. comprise wood, concrete or plaster. The planar element may be combined with and/or comprise structural beams or joists. The planar element may comprise multiple layers, such as e.g. a vapor barrier. The planar element may be adapted to form a surface suitable for interior rooms of a building, e.g. ready-made to form a ceiling or a wall of an inhabited space. The planar element may be adapted to absorb noise. Using an embodiment of the arrangement having a noise absorbing planar element facing the interior of the

building is particularly useful in a factory environment. Such a noise absorbing planar element may comprise a metal layer with plurality of holes. It may be made of wood and have plurality of slits in the surface facing towards the interior of the building.

In the scope of the invention lies a method of

manufacturing an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention. The method comprises the steps of - arranging and connecting beams to form the geometrically stable structural framework,

- attaching solar energy photovoltaic converter modules directly or indirectly to the geometrically stable

structural framework.

The two steps may be performed in a production plant distant from the building onto which the arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules will be finally mounted. A manufacturing process performed in a

specifically equipped production plant leads to

economically efficient production and significantly better reproducible results, as mounting on the construction site. The use of robots is facilitated in such a production plant . The two steps may be performed at separate places. In particular, the step of attaching solar photovoltaic converter modules to the geometrically stable structural framework may be executed only immediately before lifting the arrangement towards and onto a building structure. The step of connecting beams to form the geometrically stable structural framework may involve glueing, welding or fixing by fastening elements such as screws, nuts and bolts, nails, rivets, hooks etc.

The step of attaching the solar energy photovoltaic

converter modules directly or indirectly to the

geometrically stable structural framework may involve glueing, welding or fixing by fastening elements such as screws, nuts and bolts, nails, rivets, hooks etc. Further in the scope of the invention lies a method of manufacturing an embodiment of the arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules. The method comprises the steps of

- arranging and connecting beams to form the geometrically stable structural framework,

- arranging thermally isolating material having a thermal conductivity coefficient between 0.1 W m ^_1 K ^_1 and

0.001 W m ^_1 K ^"1 between and/or around and/or along the beams thereby forming the thermally isolating structure,

- covering the geometrically stable structural framework and the thermally isolating material with a surface cover element and attaching the surface cover element to the beams, and

- attaching solar energy photovoltaic converter modules indirectly to the geometrically stable structural framework by connecting them to the surface cover element.

The steps of this method may be performed all the same place or sequentially at separate picLCGS _/ cL S well .

Arranging thermally isolating material may comprise placing blocks or layers of thermal insulation material. Arranging thermally isolating material may comprise injecting

polymeric foams. Blowing loose flocculated material or fibers is another option for arranging thermally isolating material . In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the preaddressed

embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be

addressed unless in contradiction, a planar element is provided, preferably on a horizontal working area, wherein the step of arranging the beams comprises arranging beams on the planar element and in the form of a frame.

Furthermore, the step of arranging thermally isolating material comprises filling thermally isolating material into the frame, in particular by blowing. This embodiment of the method enables a very efficient prefabrication of arrangements according to an embodiment of the invention combining photovoltaic modules with thermal isolation functionality. Filling the thermally isolating material may comprise pneumatic injection of thermally isolating fibers or blowing flocculated material. The lower surface of the planar element may be prepared to be a ready-made interior wall or ceiling surface in a building. Such a preparation step may involve painting the surface.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, which may be combined with any of the preaddressed

embodiments and any of the embodiments still to be

addressed unless in contradiction, the step of attaching the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules indirectly to the geometrically stable structural framework is

performed by

- undetachably connecting the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules to the surface cover element, and/or - releasably connecting the solar energy photovoltaic converter modules to the surface cover element.

Further in the scope of the invention lies the use of an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention as building envelope element. A building envelope element can e.g. be a roof element or a wall element.

Coming back to the geometrical stability of the

geometrically stable framework, the following elements may contribute to keeping a deflection below 70 mm over a length of 10 m under application of the mechanical loads occuring during transport and lifting of the arrangement according to the invention:

- structural elements having large height-to-width

ratio, whereby the height is oriented perpendicular to the area covered by the photovoltaic modules,

- diagonal reinforcing elements oriented oblique-angled with respect to longitudinal and transversal beams, and

- beams or other structural elements being arranged in different heights within the geometrically stable framework, the height being defined by the distance to the photovoltaic modules.

Geometrical stability of the geometrically stable framework may be enhanced by combining some or all of the above elements. Elements of the geometrically stable framework by be fixed to each other by glue, by screws, by nails or any other fastening means. Mutually interlocking geometries may be used to connect the elements. In case of metallic elements of the framework, connecting elements by welding may be an option, too.

In addition to the geometrically stable framework, further elements, such as a surface cover element, which may be a metal structure having the photovoltaic modules attached to it, or a planar element on a side opposite the photovoltaic module may possibly add to the rigidity of the whole arrangement. The geometrically stable framework ensures the rigidity needed for transport and lifting of the

arrangement. Further rigidity results once the arrangement is mounted in its final position on the building

construction, e.g. on horizontal or vertical carrying beams of a roof or a wall construction.

The invention shall now be further exemplified with the help of figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective and partially exploded view of an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the invention;

Fig. 2 a schematic view of a cross-section through an embodiment of the arrangement; Fig. 3 shows in Fig. 3. a) to 3.e) perspective views of preliminary states of an embodiment during the method of manufacturing and in Fig. 3.f) the final state of the arrangement; Fig. 4 show the use of an arrangement according to the invention as building envelope element and the lifting of an arrangement according to the invention onto a building construction; Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a geometrically stable structural framework, in Fig. 5. a) a partial

perspective view, in Fig. 5.b) a partial top view;

Fig. 6 shows a cross section through an embodiment of the arrangement; Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the arrangement in perspective view in Fig. 7. a) and in top view in Fig. 7.b) ;

Fig. 8 shows a roof with embodiments of the

arrangement in perspective view; Fig. 9 shows a roof with embodiments of the

arrangement in perspective view;

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the arrangement in perspective view in Fig. 10. a), a longitudinal cross section in Fig. 10. b) and a transversal cross section in Fig. 10.c) ;

Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of the arrangement in top view.

Fig. 1 shows schematically and simplified an arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the present invention. The arrangement comprises a

geometrically stable structural framework 1 and solar energy photovoltaic converter modules 2. The solar energy photovoltaic converter modules are arranged on the

geometrically stable structural framework. Two of the photovoltaic modules are displayed lifted off along the dashed lines to enable a view onto the geometrically stable structural framework.

To enable a reference to directions in this figure, a longitudinal and a transversal direction T are indicated by an arrow each. In transversal direction T, the structural framework has a width and in longitudinal direction L, the structural framework has a length, such that the structural framework extends over an area A being equal to width times length. This area is at least 5 square meters. Offset from the geometrically stable framework 1 the imaginary area A, over which the framework spans, is sketched. In the example sketched here, the photovoltaic modules cover about 90% of the area A.

Fig. 2 shows schematically and simplified, an embodiment of an arrangement in cross-sectional view. The cross-section cuts the arrangement in a plane perpendicular to a

longitudinal direction L, which is indicated by a cross in circle symbol. A transversal direction T is oriented horizontally in the present figure, as indicated by an arrow. Solar energy photovoltaic converter modules 2 cover a surface cover element 11. The solar energy photovoltaic converter panels are arranged along a common plane. When the arrangement is used as building envelope element, in the installed position on the building, the photovoltaic modules and surface cover element define the outer side of building envelope element. An overlap section 18 on both sides of the surface cover element allows to establish a continuous building cover by positioning neighboring arrangements such that their overlap sections overlap. This way, as an example, a watertight roof may be constructed with arrangements according to the embodiment shown here.

A thermally isolating structure 13 extends parallel to the plane defined by the photovoltaic modules 2. The thermally isolating structure has a thickness of between 50 mm and 50 cm. The thermal transmittance of the thermally isolating structure is between 2.0 W m ^~2 K ^_1 and 0.001 W m ^~2 K ^_1 .

The surface cover element 11 shown here has a specific undulated geometry, such that air gaps 24 are formed between the photovoltaic modules 2 and the thermally isolating structure 13.

The geometrically stable structural framework here

comprises beams 15, 16. In this embodiment, a first and a second set of beams provides bending stiffness of the building envelope element in longitudinal and transversal directions. The beams 15 of the first set are oriented in longitudinal direction. The beams 16 of the second set are oriented in transversal direction. Two beams of the second set are visible in the present cross-section. The

geometrically stable structural framework forms a

mechanical load-bearing structure.

The geometrically stable structural framework is in parts surrounded by isolating material of the thermally isolating structure. Parts of the structural framework enclose the thermally isolating structure, by forming a kind of a box containing the thermally isolating material. In some section of the arrangement the beams and the thermally isolating material may be arranged along each other. The thermally isolating structure may have a complex geometry. This geometry may correspond to a complementary volume of the structural framework, i.e. the mechanical load-bearing structure, such that both structures together essentially fill the space in some sections of the building envelop element.

A surface cover element 11 may be made of metal, e.g. of corrugate sheet metal. The surface cover element 11 may be covered by a paint, resin, powder and/or foam, which can be dispensed over the metallic surface to improve the overall thermal insulation level. This has the advantage that the quantity of thermal insulating material may be reduced. This may lead to reduction of thickness of the complete arrangement. Such a paint, resin or foam may as well be applied directly to the back-side of photovoltaic modules.

Fig. 3. a) shows in perspective view a planar element 12 on which beams 15, 16 are arranged. The beams may e.g. be wooden beams. They form a frame along the outer edge of the planar element 12. Thereby, the dimensions, in particular the area, of the final arrangement is defined. The beams 16 arranged in longitudinal direction may have a length of 9 m, and a cross section defined by width x height of 60 mm x 135 mmm. The planar element 12 may be a corrugated iron sheet. The second surface element may have sections protruding over the frame. Such a protruding section 17 enable establishing a sealing to a neighboring arrangement of the same type. A sealing impervious to water and/or vapor may e.g. be achieved by applying a sealant on the protruding section and mounting a neighboring arrangement with overlap over the protruding section.

Fig. 3.b) shows the result of a second step. Elements of a thermally isolating structure 13 are arranged in the frame. These may e.g. be layers of mineral wool. These elements of the thermally isolating structure may have a form of mattresses. The layer thickness as shown here corresponds to the height of the beams. The layer thickness may be around 100 mm.

Fig. 3.c) shows the result of a third step. Additional beams 16 are arranged in transversal direction over the layer of thermally isolating material. The beams are connected to the longitudinal beams 15. Longitudinal and transversal beams form the geometrically stable structural framework. All the beams together provide mechanical stiffening.

Fig. 3.d) shows the result of a fourth step, wherein a further layer of thermally isolating material in between the space formed by the transversal beams and above the previously installed layer of thermally isolating material has been installed. Again, this layer may be a layer of mineral wool in form of mattresses. This layer is fixed by means of fastening devices 14, which in particular may have the form of spiral springs. These fastening means may cross both layers of thermally insulating material and press them together. This way, the room between the elements of the geometrically stable structural framework is filled

compactly by thermally isolating material. A lateral element 19, e.g. wooden planks, may be attached to the lateral parts to protect the insulation layer. If the further layer of thermally isolating material again is 100 mm, a total thickness of the thermally isolating structure of 20 cm results for the embodiment shown in this figure.

Fig. 3.e) shows the result of a fifth step. A surface cover element 11 has been fixed on top of the transversal beams. This surface cover element 11 may be made of sheet metal. In the embodiment shown, the first surface elements comprise planar interface areas adapted to glue

photovoltaic modules onto them. The first surface element further has a geometrical form that enables air flow behind the photovoltaic panels, once they are mounted onto the surface. Air as heat carrying medium is then guided through channels running along the full length of the arrangement. Similar to the protruding sections 17 of the second surface element, the first surface element has overlap sections 18 adapted to overlap a similar section of a neighboring arrangement when mounted on a building. These overlap sections enable establishing a roof that properly conducts away water. Such a roof consisting of arrangements

according to the invention can be built in a very simple manner .

Fig. 3.f) shows the final arrangement after the

installation of the photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic modules may be equipped with back rails corresponding in position to the interface areas of the first surface, these back rails being adapted to be glued to the interface areas. In the embodiment shown, the arrangement comprises five photovoltaic modules covering a total area of about 9 square meters .

Fig. 4 shows arrangements 10 of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules mounted on a building 20 and the process of lifting such an arrangement towards and onto a building 20. This illustrates a use of the arrangements 10 as building envelope elements, in this case as roof elements. In the situation shown in fig. 4, the arrangements have a longitudinal extension oriented along a bottom to top direction on the roof. Alternatively, but not shown here, a left to right orientation of the longitudinal direction is conceivable as well. Furthermore, the use of arrangements according to the invention is not limited to roof

construction. Arrangements according to the invention may be applied on a facade of a building, too. One arrangement 10 is suspended on ropes and shown in the process of being lifted. An arrow indicates a lifting movement 21. The arrangement 10 of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the invention is assembled into one piece at latest before lifting. The arrangement may as well be preassembled in a factory. In the latter case, transport of the arrangement onto the construction site is

facilitated by the intrinsic mechanical stability of the arrangement. Lifting the arrangement onto the building construction may be performed by means of a crane. It is as well conceivable to perform the lifting by means of a helicopter, e.g. in places that are not easy accessible by road .

The mechanical stability needed during lifting the

arrangement may be provided by the combined effect of the stability of the geometrically stable structural framework, the stability of the photovoltaic module itself and their mutual connection. Elements as beams or corrugated metal sheets may form the structural framework.

Fig. 5. a) shows an embodiment of a geometrically stable structural framework 1 in a partial perspective, schematic and simplified view. Longitudinal and transversal elements along the border of the geometrically stable structural framework build a frame 22. Further structural elements, as transversally oriented beams 16 and diagonal reinforcing elements 23 contribute to the geometrical stability of the framework. Beams 16 are arranged in an upper and in a lower position, thereby increasing bending stiffness. The

diagonal reinforcing elements 23 and the elements comprised in the frame 22 shown here have a cross-section with a high height-to-width ratio, whereby the height of the elements is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal L and

transversal direction T of the geometrically stable

structural framework 1. This further contributes to high bending stiffness being an important aspect of the

geometrical stability. The embodiment of the geometrically stable structural framework 1 as shown here may e.g. be built completely of wooden elements. Elements of the geometrically stable structural framework 1 may be fixed to each other by glue, by screws, nails and other fastening means .

Fig. 5.b) shows an embodiment of a geometrically stable structural framework 1 in a partial a partial top view. The viewing direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal and the transversal direction. An end part of an embodiment similar to the one shown in Fig. 5. a) is shown. A similar structure may be repeated in longitudinal direction for e.g. five to ten times in the direction indicate by dots. Beams 16 and diagonal reinforcing elements form nearly triangular configurations and contribute thereby to

geometrical stability, in particular against shearing or twisting, of the geometrically stable structural framework 1.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the arrangement which is a suitable prefabricated element for a curved surface roof. The geometrically stable structural framework 1 comprises curved bars. They mutually support each other by means of struts. In this embodiment, the geometrically stable structural framework extends along a curved area of at least 5 square meters, which forms the arched upper side of the arrangement.

Fig. 7. a) and 7.b) show an arrangement 10, wherein

individual elements of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules are arranged in with their longer dimension in transversal direction of the arrangement. By using a typical size of photovoltaic modules, a single row of eight photovoltaic modules 2 leads to a length of the complete arrangement below 14 meters and a width of approximately 2 to 2.3 meters. A single arrangement according to this embodiment covers an area as large as 25 to 30 square meters. By keeping the dimensions below 2.3 meters times 14 meters, trucks of regular size can be used for the

transport of the prefabricated arrangements to a

construction site and exceptional transports can be

avoided. Both longitudinal sides of the arrangement may be adapted to fit to an adjacent arrangement of the same type.

Fig. 8 shows a roof with three prefabricated arrangements according to an embodiment. An individual arrangement according to this embodiment is displayed in Fig. 10. The roof is suitable as roof for a carport or for an at least partially translucent roof. The three arrangements are placed onto a supporting structure comprising horizontal and vertical beams, which give additional stability in the final room construction, which goes beyond the stability needed for lifting a prefabricated arrangement, i.e. an individual module, onto the supporting structure for the roof. End parts of the horizontal and vertical beams are visible at the borders of the arrangement. For mounting, the prefabricated arrangement is placed and fixed on the supporting structure, which may for example be a supporting structure of a carport or of a building. The embodiment shown is suited to be mounted in an inclined position, such that the border shown on top right in the figure forms a top side and the border shown on the lower left side in the figure forms a gutter side. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the photovoltaic elements 2 are oriented with their longer side in longitudinal direction of the arrangement. Three time three photovoltaic elements cover the surface of the final roof.

Fig. 9 shows a roof similar to the one shown in Fig. 8, but having its longitudinal direction at right angle to a water flow direction from a top side to a gutter side. This roof, too, is suitable for a carport. The supporting structure here consists of beams having an H-shaped cross section. The supporting structure has no horizontal beams in this example. This nevertheless leads to sufficient mechanical stability of the final roof construction, as the three prefabricated arrangements of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules according to the embodiment provide in combination with the beams of the supporting structure enough stability due to their integrated geometrically stable structural framework.

Fig. 10. a), b) and c) show an embodiment of the

arrangement, which may be used to build the roof of a carport. Possible roof constructions using this embodiment are shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the arrangement in top view. In this embodiment, two rows of six photovoltaic elements 2 cover an area of approximately 25 square meters. End pieces, not marked with "PV" may be dummy elements, which look similar to photovoltaic elements. The size of the arrangement is approximately 2 meters in transverse

direction and less than 14 meters in longitudinal

direction .

List of reference signs

1 geometrically stable structural framework

2 solar energy photovoltaic converter module

10 arrangement of solar energy photovoltaic converter modules

11 surface cover element

12 planar element

13 thermally isolating structure

14 fastening device

15 beam (of first set of beams)

16 beam (of second set of beams)

17 protruding section (of planar element)

18 overlap section (of surface cover element)

19 lateral element

20 building

21 lifting movement

22 frame

23 diagonal reinforcing element

24 air gap A area

L longitudinal direction T transversal direction