According to government records, Mechanical Engineering Professors Ganesh V. Kudav, Ph.D and Yogendra M. Panta, Ph.D have been awarded a patent for a solar panel wind deflector.

Solar panels mounted on a roof are used to produce electricity. However, the pitched angle configuration is not aerodynamic.

During periods of high winds the panels can be subjected to forces that can cause them to loosen or detach from their mountings, presenting a public safety issue, to people and property in the vicinity.

Professors Kudav and Panta have created a deflector using a curved design to lessen the effects of wind on solar panels during extreme weather conditions.

According to the

(UCS), the sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions.

However, depending on their location, solar panel facilities can raise concerns about land degradation and habitat loss.

The UCS website says that smaller scale photovoltaic solar arrays, which can be built on homes or commercial buildings, have minimal land use impact.

The patent records include the results of wind tunnel testing conducted on the design, as well as drawings of the concept.

The patent notes that the design may have other applications where wind forces have an adverse impact on a pitched structure.