GB2523207A

GB2523207A - Mounting system

Info

Publication number: GB2523207A
Application number: GB1405654.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard G Williams
Original assignee: TEMPORARY SOLAR Ltd
Current assignee: TEMPORARY SOLAR LIMITED
Priority date: 2014-01-29
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2015-08-19
Also published as: GB201405654D0; GB201401484D0

Abstract

A solar panel mounting apparatus 27, for mounting an array of solar panels 36 to a modular building or portacabin 37, wherein the modular building comprises a first support leg or vertical beam 38, and the apparatus comprises a frame 32, 35 and mounting means wherein the frame is for supporting a solar panel and is attached to the mounting means, and the mounting means is configured to attach directly to the first support leg. The panels may be adjustable on the said frame.

Description

I

MOUNTING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a solar panel mounting apparatus, and in particular to a mounting apparatus for mounting solar panels onto modular buildings whore the roof is not intended to be load bearing.

Solar photo voltaic power generation is becoming increasingly popular for generating power locally. It is an ideal system to use to provide power to modular and/or temporary structures. The economic and environmental advantages are obvious however there are currently no practical systems available to use on temporary structures. The mounting system of the present invention solves this problem and provides an economical, easily fined and removed system for mounting solar photo voltaic panels onto modular and/or temporary structures.

According to a first aspect the invention provides a solar panel mounting apparatus, for mounting a solar panel to a modular building, wherein the modular building comprises a first support leg, and the apparatus comprises a frame and mounting means wherein the frame is for supporting a solar panel and is attached to the mounting means, and the mounting means is configured to attach directly to the first support leg.

The modular building comprises at least one support leg, however in most embodiments the modular building will comprise at least two support legs, and preferably at least four support legs. The support legs may be internal or external to the modular building. The support legs are preferably configured to allow weight to be applied thereto and to be borne by the ground rather than the building to which they are attached. The weight of the modular building may be borne by the support legs.

In an embodiment, the modular building comprises at least four support legs each of which contact a load bearing surface, typically the ground, and bear the weight of the modular building. Typically, the modular building is raised from the ground.

The support legs can also be used to stack modular buildings, wherein the weight of at least one of the modular building is borne by the support legs.

The modular building may be prefabricated and delivered erected to a place of use.

The modular building may be intended for short term temporary use or may be intended for more permanent long term use.

Modular buildings are typically used in many situations, from construction sites, to educational institutions, to emergency situations, to events, to offices, to catering, and many more.

The apparatus of the invention may further comprise a solar panel. Preferably the solar panel comprises a photovoltaic cell.

The apparatus may further comprise an inverter, operable to provide an alternating current using energy derived from the solar panel.

In the apparatus of the invention the frame may be configured to allow the orientation of the solar panel to be adjusted. Thc solar panel position may bc adjusted before or after installation. The orientation of the solar panel may be adjustable in both elevation and azimuth.

The apparatus may also comprise a screen for at least partially obscuring the apparatus from view, so as to reduce the visual impact of the apparatus.

Where a modular building comprises a second support leg, the mounting means may be configured to span the roof of the modular building, and to attach, preferably directly, to the first and second support legs. Where there are more than two support legs the apparatus may attach to more than two support legs, and/or more than two apparatuses may be attached to a single modular building.

The mounting means of the apparatus may comprise a first adjustable length element, so as to accommodate a range of distances between the first and second support legs.

The apparatus may comprise a second adjustable element in the mounting means, the second adjustabk element may be transverse to an axis of the first adjustabk element, such that the mounting means is configured to accommodate a range of transverse distances between the first and second and third and fourth support legs, and a range S of longitudin& distances between first and third and second and fourth support legs.

Where an apparatus of the invention comprises at least one adjustable length element thc element may comprisc a tclcscopic mcmbcr.

The support leg may extend from a location proximate to the bottom of the building, to a location proximate to the top of the building.

The apparatus of the invention may comprise at least one lifting point, from which the fully assembled apparatus can be lifted for removal or installation. At least one lifting point may bc suitable for use by a forklift or crane.

The mounting means of the apparatus of the invention may be configured to attach to the building without transferring load to the roof of the building.

Preferably the apparatus of the invention can be mounted directly to a modular building with no on site assembly required.

Preferably the apparatus of the invention is not orientation dependant as panels mounted of the apparatus may be rotated through 360 degrees.

Preferably the apparatus can be removed in one piece and moved to another location easily.

The apparatus is mounted to the existing support p'ates and secured with bolts The apparatus of the invention may further comprise the modular building.

In a second aspect the invention provides a modular buflding with apparatus of the invention attached thereto.

A third aspect of the invention provides a mounting apparatus for mounting a renewable energy generation means to a modu'ar buflding. wherein the modular building comprises a first support leg, and the apparatus comprises a frame and a mounting means, wherein the frame is for supporting renewable energy generation S means, and the mounting means is configured to attach directly to the first support leg A fourth aspect of thc invention providcs usc of a rcncwable cncrgy gcncration mcans supported on a mounting apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or the third aspect of the invention to supply energy to a modular building.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a method of assembling an energy-efficient temporary or semi-permanent building for a site comprising: providing a modular building comprising a first support leg; and * attaching a mounting apparatus according to the first aspcct of thc invention or the third aspect of the invention directly to the first support leg, wherein the mounting apparatus includes a renewable energy generation means.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a method of supp'ying ocal energy, e.g. locally generated electrical power. at a site comprising use of a renewable energy gcncration means supportcd on a mounting apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or the third aspect of the invention.

In ai embodiment, the site may be a construction site.

The systcm will be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 -sho.vs a cross section through a modular building with an example embodiment of a solar panel mounting apparatus according to the invention (the so'ar pod mounting system) above; Figure 2 -shows a plan of the solar pod mounting system from above the modular building; Figure 3 -shows a so'ar photo voltaic panel on a section of an exampk embodiment of a solar panel mounting apparatus according to the invention, the section comprising the solar panel's mounting frame and pivot point; Figure 4 shows an example of an alternative arrangement of a support frame according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a further alternative arrangement of a support frame according to the invention; Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a solar photovoltaic installation according to the invention; Figure 7 shows a perspective vicw of another example embodiment of a solar panel mounting apparatus according to the invention; Figure 8 shows the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figure 7 alongside a modular building, on to which the solar panel mounting apparatus can be mounted; Figure 9 shows the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figure 8 mounted on top of the modular building of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows the solar panels of the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figure 9 arranged in a preferred orientation for receiving sunlight; Figure 11 shows a stack of three solar panel mounting apparatuses according to the invention; Figure 12 shows an installation, in which two solar panel mounting apparatuses according to the invention arc mounted on top of two modular buildings; and Figure 13 is a view from beneath the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figures 7to12, Figure 1 shows a cross section of a modular building 1 with two support legs 2. The support legs 2 are connected to the outer waH 6 of the modular buflding I. they are supported by the ground 7 and bear the weight of the building 1. The top of the support legs 2 protrudes slightly above the top of the modular building I, The top of S each support leg 2 is provided with a mounting means 8 in the form of a horizontal flange or plate with one or more apertures for receiving a bolt or the like.

The solar panel mounting apparatus 3 of the invention comprises a frame 9 and mounting means 10 supporting a plurality of solar panels 5, The apparatus 3 is attached to the support leg 2 of modular building 1 via the mounting means 8, The frame 9 is provided on frame support legs, each frame support leg having at its base a flange 12 with one or more apertures for receiving a bolt of the like. Typically, the mounting means 8 at the top of a support leg 2 and the flange 12 of a corresponding frame support leg of the frame 9 are held together by one or more bolts (not shown).

The frame 9 is typically adjustable tekscopicalhz to suit aH sizes of modular buildings.

A side screen 4 is illustrated mounted to mounting means 3. the purpose of the side screen is to reduce the visual impact of the solar voltaic panels.

The solar voltaic panels S are shown mounted onto the frame 9 via the rotating support structures 10 as shown in figure 3.

The panels could be rotated manually or electrically using a solar tracker.

The frame will be constructed from a material such as steel. aluminium or other

suitable material.

Figure 2 shows an overhead view of the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figure 1 mounted on a modular building 1, The apparatus is mounted on and supported by the support legs 2 of the modular building. The solar voltaie panels 5 are rotatably mounted on the frame as shown in figure 3. The so'ar voltaic panels 5 can be rotated through 360 degrees to suit the orientation of the modular buflding.

Figure 3 shows a cross section through the solar panel mounting apparatus. There is a pivot II provided in the middk of the solar voltaic panel 5 which is connected to the frame 3 The solar voltaic panel 5 can be rotated around the pivot point 11. As can be seen in Figure 3, the solar panel 5 is part of an asseniby comprising a horizontal member 14 and a shorter vertical member 13 extending upwardly from one end of the horizontal member. The solar panel 5 forms the hypotenuse of a right-angle triangle, with the other two sides being formed by the horizontal member 14 and the shorter vcrtical mcmbcr 13. The horizontal membcr 14 is connected to the pivot point 11.

The pitch of the solar pand 5 is detennined by the relative dimensions of the horizontal member 14 and the shorter vertical member 13 and may be selected so as to optimisc the performance, in use, of the solar panel. Typically, the pitch of the solar panel may be up to 45° or up to 30°. The pitch of the solar panel may be selected to be at least 1° orat east 5° The panels are connected using conventional mounting clips dependant on the panels to be used.

Figure 4 shows in plal1 the frame 9' mounted diagonally to the support legs 2'.

Figure 5 shows in plan the frame 9" mounted diagonally to the corners supports 2".

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a solar photovoltaic installation according to the invention. An installation 15 of a mounting apparatus on a roof of a modular, temporary or portabk buUding comprises an array of solar panels ISa, I Sb. I Sc, I Sd.

iSe, 1Sf. 18g. iSh. iSi, lSj connected in series. Associated with the mounting apparatus is a connecting module 16, which comprises an inverter 19 and an AC isolator 20. The inverter 19 is operable to provide an alternating current using energy derived from the solar panels 18a. 18b, 18c, lSd, 18e. 18f. 18g. 18h. 18i. 18j.

The connecting module 16 is linked to the building's existing AC installation 26 via a unit 17 containing a generation meter 21. The generation meter 21 records the electrical energy generated by the solar panels 18a. 18b, 18e, lSd, iSe. 1Sf, 18g. 18h, I Si. I Sj. A data logger 46 is connected to the generation meter 21 to log and store data from the generation meter 21. The logged and stored data can be viewed on a display unit 22. A main isolator 23 is located between the generation meter 21 and the biLilding's existing AC installation 26. Typically, the main isolator 23 may be securable in the off position only, The main isolator 23 may comprise a double pok isolator.

S The buUding's existing AC installation 26 may comprise a supp'y from a distribution network operator (DNO). Additionally or alternatively, the building's existing AC installation 26 may be supplied by energy from a local generator. The existing AC installation 26 comprises a main consumer unit 24 and a utility mctcr 25 to record the building's electricity consumption. The main iso'ator 23 is connected to the main consumer unit 24, thereby supplying electricity to the building, when the solar panels iSa. lSb, lSc, lSd. iSe. 1Sf, 18g. iSh. iSi, lSj are operational.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of another example embodiment of a solar panel mounting apparatus 27 according to the invention, The mounting apparatus 27 comprises a frame carrying seven solar photovoltaic panels 36.

The frame comprises a horizontal rectangle made tip of two end elements 32 and a pair of opposing longer side elements 35, Extending downwards from outside the longer side elements 35, there are four vertical frame support legs 29. A pair of frame support legs 29 extends from each longer side element 35, the frame support legs 29 being located a distance a'ong the onger side ekment 35 from the end elements 32 of the frame. A pair of crossbeams 31 extend across the frame parallel to the end elements 32, each crossbeam 31 extending between a frame support leg 29 on one side of the frame and the correspondingly located frame support leg 29 on the opposite side of the frame, Two further crossbcams 33 extend across a centre region of the frame to further increase the rigidity of the frameS Each frame support leg 29 has at its base a flange 28 with one or more apertures (not shown) for receiving a bolt of the like, As shown in Figure 7, the flange 28 may be square, although it could equally have any other suitable shape and/or dimensions, A display board 30 is attached to and runs between the frame support legs 29 on each side of the frame. The display board 30 may help to improve the aesthetics of the mounting apparatus by hiding the underside of the mounting apparatus from view and/or may be used to display information, e.g. a company name or slogan. The display board(s) 30 is/are not essentia' to the invention.

A connecting module 34 comprising an inverter is attached to one of the end elements 32 of the frame, In use. the inverter is operable to provide an afternating current using S energy derived from the seven solar photovoltaic panels 36, The connecting module 34 is connectable to a building's existing AC installation or infrastructure.

The solar panel mounting apparatus 27 may be provided with at least one lifting point, from which the fufly assembled apparatus can be lifted for removal or installation, At least one lifting point may be suitable for use by a forklift or crane, In Figure 8, the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 is shown alongside a modular building 37, Tn this example, the modular building 37 is a cabin with a door U, a first window 42 and a second window 43, The modular building 37 has four support legs 38 connected to the olLtside of the modular building 37. In use, the support legs 38 bear the weight of the modular building 37. In use, the support legs 38 may be supported by the ground or the support legs of another modular building beneath the modular building 36. The tops of the support legs 38 protrude slightly above the top of the modular building 37. The top of each support leg 38 is provided with a mounting means in the form of a horizontal flange or plate 39 with one or more aperturcs for receiving a boft or the like.

As shown in Figure 9. the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 can be mounted on to the roof of the modular building 37. The so'ar panel mounting apparatus 27 is configured such that the frame support legs 29 can be joined to the support legs 38, Accordingly, the weight of the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 is borne by the support legs 38, The solar panel mounting apparatus 27 is configured such that, when the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 is in the correct position, apertures in the flanges 28 at the bases of the frame support legs 29 align with apertures in the flanges or plates 39 at the top of the support legs 38, thereby allowing the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 to be fixed to the support legs 38 of the modular building 37 by bolts passing through the apertures.

In Figure 10, the solar panel mounting apparatus 27 is in place above the modular building 37, As compared with Figure 9. the solar photovoltaic panels 36 have been tilted and rotated such that they are in a preferred orientation for receiving sunlight.

For instance, in the middle of the day, the solar photovoltaic panels 36 may be orientated to face south. The orientation of the solar photovoltaic panels 36 may be controlled and/or varied manually or automatically, e.g. using a solar tracker and/or in S accordance with a computer program, in order to receive as much sunlight as possible and consequently optimise the performance of the solar photovoltaic panels 36, Typically, the solar photovoltaic panels 36 may be arranged such that, in use, each solar photovoltaic panel 36 can be rotated without colliding into a neighbouring solar photovoltaic panel 36. Typically, the solar photovoltaic panels 36 may be arranged such that, in use, no solar photovoltaic panel 36 will cast a significant shadow (preferably no shadow) on or shade another solar photovoltaic panel 36, at least when the solar photovoltaic panels 36 are in a preferred orientation for a given position of the sun in the sky. The position of the sun in the sky will vary depending on the time of day and the season.

In Figure 11, a stack of three solar panel mounting apparatuses 27, 27', 27" is shown.

This illustrates that the solar panel mounting apparatuses of the invention may be configured such that they can be stacked one on top of another for more convenient storage and/or transportation to a site of use. As shown in Figure 11, the solar photovoltaie panels 36 are in a substantially flat orientation. The solar photovoltaic panels 36 are located slightly above the rectangular frame, but within the bounds of the rectangular frame. The connecting module 34 protrudes only a relatively short distance above the plane of the rectangular frame. The solar panel mounting apparatuses are configured, e.g. by the frame support legs 29 having an appropriate height, such that when the solar panel mounting apparatuses 27, 27', 27" are stacked one on top of each other, the solar photovoltaic panels 36 of one solar panel mounting apparatus do not come into contact with any part of the solar panel mounting apparatus on top of it in the stack. V/hen stacked as shown in Figure 11, the weight of the solar panel mounting apparatuses 27, 27'. 27" is borne by the aligned frame support legs 29. The tops of the each frame support leg 29 may be provided with apertures (not shown) for receiving bolts or the like, the apertures being located such that they align with apertures in the flanges 28 when the solar panel mounting apparatuses are stacked correctly. Bolts passing through the apertures may be used to fix the stacked solar panel mounting apparatuses to each other, e.g. to prevent them moving relative to one another in storage or during transportation.

In Figure 12, two modular buildings 37, 37' are shown side-by-side. Each modular building 37. 37' has a solar pand mounting apparatus 27, 27' fitted above it, The two modular buildings 37. 37' may be linked to form a larger temporary building or they may be separate. The two modular buildings 37. 37' may be on the ground or they S may be located on top of one or more layers of further modular buUdings, thereby providing a multi-storcy temporary structure.

Figure 13 is a view from beneath the solar panel mounting apparatus of Figures 7 to 12. Figure 13 iflustrates how the solar photovoltaic panels 36 are fixed to the frame.

Each solar photovoltaic panel 36 is connected to a substantially horizontal support arm 43 extending inwardly from one of the longer side elements 35 of the frame. A rotatable cylinder 44 extends upwards from each support arm 43. At its top, each rotatable cylinder 44 has a fulcrum 45. which is connected to the centre of the underside of the solar photovoltaic panel 36, The rotatable cylinder 44 allows the solar photovoltaic panel 36 to be rotated through 360° about a vertical axis. The fulcrum 45 aflows the pitch of the solar photovoltaic pand 36 to be varied by pivoting about a horizontal axis. Accordingly, the solar photovoltaic panels 36 can adopt a wide range of orientations, in usc.

Typically, the pitch of the solar photovoltaic panels 36 may be varied by up to 45° or up to 300 from the horizontal.

The solar panel mounting apparatus shown in Figures 7 to 13 may be configured to be fitted to a typical 9,56 m by m cabin, It wifl be appreciated that the so'ar panel mounting apparatus could be configured to fit a modular building having any dimensions, Use of a solar panel mounting apparatus of the kind shown in Figures 7 to 13 may provide a system with a size of 2.289 kilowatts peak (kWp). A 2.289 kWp system may provide an output of 1978 kWh/year. Advantageously, this could save around £300/year in energy bills and around 1 tonne of carbon emissions, An example use of a solar panel mounting apparatus according to the invention will now be described. A construction site may require a given number of energy-efficient modular buildings. eg. to serve as temporary or semi-permanent site offices and accommodation. The given number of energy-efficient modular buildings is then delivered to the construction site with the solar pane' mounting apparatuses already fitted. This may be especially desirable from a health and safety standpoint, as compared with fitting the solar pand mounting apparatuses to the buildings at the S construction site.

Alternatively, the solar panel mounting apparatuses may be fitted to temporary biLildings already in situ at a construction site. In this way, the in situ buildings may be upgraded by being made i'nore energy efficient. Conveniently, the solar panel mounting apparatuses may be stacked on top of each other to facilitate delivery to, and storage and handling, at the construction site, On construction sites, temporary or semi-permanent site buildings such as cabins for site offices or accommodation typically comprise modular and/or portable buildings, Such modular and/or portable buildings may be containerized. As used in this patent application, the term "modular building" is generafly intended to cover aH types of modular, portabk or containerized buildings, A larger building may be assembled from a plurality of individual modular, portable or containerized buildings, The modular and/or portable buildings used on construction sites typically come in a limited number of sizes and configurations, typicafly determined by the size of toad that can be transported by road on the back of a truck without being considered an abnormal load. Hence, modular and/or portable buildings used on construction sites typically have the dimensions of a shipping container. The buildings may be containerized in that they may be a modified shipping container, Modular, portable buildings modified from shipping containers typically have support legs located inside the corners of the building. The other common configuration of support legs is as shown in the drawings, i.e. the support legs are connected to the outer walls of the modular building and are located a distance, typically a standard distance, from the corners of the nioduar building, Therefore, the solar panel mounting apparatus need only be manufactured and supplied in a relatively limited number of sizes and dimensions, corresponding to the relatively limited number of sizes of modular and/or portable and/or containerized buildings, Equally, the solar panel mounting apparatus may be configured to be adi lLstable such that a given solar panel mounting apparatus may be fitted to more than one type of building.

S Use of the invention may be particularly advantageous in the construction sector, since it can provide more energy-efficient site buildings. The use of more energy-efficient site buildings on construction sites may provide energy, carbon and/or cost savings. Accordingly, use of the invention may facilitate a reduction in carbon emissions during a construction project and hence the hfe-cycle carbon footprint of the construction project. Hence, the environmental sustainability of construction projects may be improved through use of the present invention, The invention may be fitted to temporary or semi-permanent buildings in situ at a site, thereby upgrading the buildings' energy efficiency and potentially increasing their useful lifetime as a result. Alternatively or additionally. the invention may be used to upgrade existing modu'ar and/or portable bufldings, thereby improving the buildings' efficieny and potentially increasing their useful Ufetime, Thus, the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of the existing stock of modular and/or portable buildings may be increased cost effectively, without having to replace the existing modular and/or portable building stock with new, higher-specification modular and/or portabk buildings.

Other sites where the invention may be used include sites hosting events such as festivals, on film sets or at outside broadcast sites, Indeed, the invention may have utility at any site where local renewable power generation is required, e.g. to reduce dependency on petrol generators for off-grid power.

\7%'hile the invention has been described with reference primarily to photovoltaic solar panels, it should be appreciated that photovoltaic solar panels are just one example of a renewable energy generation means that could be used with the mounting apparatus of the invention, A combination of renewable energy generation means may be provided, either on a single frame, or on a plurality of frames, to meet the requirements of a particular site of use. For instance, instead of or as wefl as one or more photovoltaic solar pands. the mounting apparatus may support one or more small wind turbines and/or one or more solar thermal energy collectors, The provision of small wind turbines could be useful for producing electricity at relatively windy sites and/or when the sun is not shining, e.g. at night or on doudy days. Solar thermal energy collectors could be used to provide hot water and/or heating to the modular building(s). The solar thermal energy collector(s) could be connected to the modular building's hot water delivery system and/or heating system by conventiona' means.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A solar panel mounting apparatus, for mounting a solar panel to a modular building, wherein the modular building comprises at least first support leg, the apparatus comprising a frame and mounting means wherein the frame is for supporting a solar panel and is attached to the mounting means, and the mounting means is configured to attach to the first support leg.
2. Thc apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a solar panel.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the solar panel comprises a photovoltaic cell.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an inverter, operable to provide an alternating current using energy derived from the solar panel.
5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the frame is configured to allow the orientation of the solar panel to be adjusted.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the orientation of the solar panel is adjustable in both elevation and azimuth.
7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a screen for at least partially obscuring the apparatus from view, so as to reduce the visual impact of the apparatus.
8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the modular building further comprises a second support leg and the mounting means is configured to span the roof of the modular building, and to attach directly to the first and second support legs.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mounting means comprises a first adjustable length element, so as to accommodate a range of distances between the first and second support legs.
10. The apparatus of any of claims 8 or 9. wherein the modular building further comprises a third and fourth support leg, and the mounting means is configured to mount directly to the third and fourth support legs.
11 The apparatus of claim tO, wherein the mounting means comprises a second adjustable element, transverse to an axis of the first adjustable element, such that the mounting means is configured to accommodate a range of transverse distances between the first and second and third and fourth support legs, and a range of longitudind distances between the first and third and second and fourth support legs.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second adjustable length element comprises a telescopic member.
13. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each support leg extends from a location proximate to the bottom of the building, to a location proximate to the top of the building.
14. The apparatus of al1y preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one lifting point, from which the fully assembled apparatus can be lifted for removal or installation.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one lifting point is suitable for use by a forklift or crane.
16. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means is configured to attach to the building without transferring load to the roof of the building.
17. A mounting apparatus for mounting a renewabk energy generation means to a modular building, wherein the modu'ar building comprises a first support leg, and the apparatus comprises a frame and a mounting means. wherein the frame is for supporting renewable energy generation means, and the mounting means is configured to attach directly to the first support leg.
18. The apparatus of claim 17. flLrtller comprising a renewable energy generation means.
19.22, Use of a renewable energy generation means supported on a mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19 to supply cnergy to a modular building.23, A method of assembling an energy-efficient temporary or semi-permanent building for a site comprising: * providing a modular building comprising a first support leg; and attaching a mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19 directly to the first support leg. wherein the mounting apparatus includes a renewable energy generation means.24, A method of supplying local energy at a site comprising use of a renewable energy generation means supported on a mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19.25. A method according to claim 23 or claim 24. wherein the site is a construction site, an event or festival site, a film set or an outside broadcast site, 26. A mounting apparatus substantiafly as described herein with reference to the examples and figures, 27. A modiLlar building slLbstantially as described herein with reference to the examples and figures.

19, The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the renewable energy generation means comprises a photovoltaic solar panel, a wind turbine or a so'ar thermal energy collector,
20. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising the modular building.
21, A modular building comprising a mounting apparatus as described in any of claims 1 to