In 2022, the global solar PV industry continued its strong growth momentum. As the core support structure of PV systems, advanced solar mounting systems witnessed a critical year of technological upgrades and market restructuring. Against the backdrop of accelerating “dual‑carbon” goals and continuously rising global PV installed capacity, advanced solar mounting systems – especially smart tracking brackets, building‑integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and lightweight high‑efficiency mounting systems – achieved significant breakthroughs in technological innovation, product iteration, and market application.

This article reviews the annual development of advanced solar mounting systems in 2022 from four dimensions: market trends, technical highlights, industry challenges, and future outlook.

I. Market Overview: Rapid Expansion on a Hundred‑Billion‑RMB Track

In 2022, the global solar PV mounting systems market continued to grow rapidly. Data from several market research institutions show that the global solar PV mounting systems market was approximately US$21‑24 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to about US$50 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 11%. For the Chinese market, with continuous increases in new PV installed capacity, the PV mounting market in 2022 was estimated to reach about RMB 19 billion.

From a technology perspective, the market penetration of tracking systems steadily increased. According to IHS Markit, global tracker shipments were 51 GW in 2021, while total tracker installations from 2022 to 2030 are expected to exceed 660 GW, accounting for more than 40% of global ground‑mounted PV power plants. In the Chinese market, tracker penetration rose to 21.56% in 2021 and is estimated to further reach about 23% in 2022.

In terms of competition, the global PV mounting industry has a relatively high market concentration. In 2020, NEXTracker held the top spot with a market share of approximately 29.1%, Array Technologies ranked second with 17.5%, and PVHardware was third. Meanwhile, Chinese companies such as Arctech, Grace Solar, and Antaisolar continued to rise in global markets and became forces that cannot be ignored.

II. Technological Innovation: Five Highlights of Advanced Mounting Systems in 2022

In 2022, technological innovation in advanced solar mounting systems showed four major trends: intelligence, lightweight design, modularisation, and multifunctionality. The five technical highlights of the year are as follows:

Highlight 1: AI‑Powered Smart Tracking Enters a New Phase

The technical core of tracking brackets lies in “sun‑tracking” accuracy and system reliability. In 2022, several leading global companies introduced smart tracking systems equipped with second‑generation AI‑assisted algorithms.

Arctech launched the world’s first dual‑row multi‑point drive single‑axis tracker SkyWings in 2022. The system uses a patented bi‑directional slewing drive and a multi‑point drive mechanism, accommodating undulating terrain with a tolerance of up to 15% in both north‑south and east‑west directions. Equipped with second‑generation AI‑assisted algorithms, SkyWings calculates the optimal tilt angle in real time, and its shadow avoidance capability can increase power generation by up to 8%, with an annual energy gain of about 2%.

Meanwhile, Grace Solar’s “Nengzhi” smart tracking system obtained a new patent in 2022, offering multi‑point drive, dual‑row linkage, and independent single‑row 1P/2P solutions. It features AI‑based control, extreme weather protection strategies for snow, wind, and hail, and compatibility with 210 mm large‑format modules.

Highlight 2: Breakthroughs in Terrain‑Adaptive Tracking Technology

With land resources becoming increasingly scarce, more and more PV power plants must be built on complex terrains such as mountains and hills. In 2022, leading US tracker manufacturer NEXTracker launched the NX Horizon‑XTR “extreme terrain” tracker product line. Instead of the traditional “support from below” principle, the system uses a “suspend from above” approach. Each row of trackers can operate independently, following the natural contours of the terrain and reducing earthworks and land disturbance by 30%‑90%.

NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar said that the XTR solution can reduce land‑levelling costs by up to 5% of the project budget, while significantly reducing foundation material and steel consumption. The system has been successfully deployed in projects such as the Melbourne Water Winneke Solar Farm in Australia.

Highlight 3: Accelerated Commercialisation of BIPV Products

Building‑integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) was another important growth point in the mounting industry in 2022. In June 2022, leading Chinese company Antaisolar officially released its new BIPV product “Taiyang Roof”. The product achieves 100% waterproofing, requiring only three installation steps: “place, clamp, and fasten”. Made of high‑performance aluminium alloy, its actual performance exceeds Chinese national standards by 20%, can reduce system cost by 20% and improve installation efficiency by 50%, and has a design life of up to 50 years.

Arctech also secured the largest single BIPV project in South China in 2022, continuing to deploy its full‑scene integrated solar‑storage‑charging solutions including “Smart Top”, “Double Top”, “Rui Top”, and “Smart Barn”.

Highlight 4: Mounting Systems Optimised for Bifacial Modules Deliver Up to 20% Generation Gain

With the rapid growth of the bifacial module market, mounting systems specifically designed for bifacial modules became a hot spot for new products in 2022. In September 2022, Austrian mounting manufacturer AEROCOMPACT launched the CompactFLAT GS, a flat‑roof mounting system designed for bifacial modules and green roofs. The system keeps modules about 40 cm above the roof surface, enhancing rear‑side reflectivity. Independent laboratory tests confirmed that bifacial modules on a bright roof surface can increase power generation by up to 20%.

At Intersolar Europe 2022, the German Schletter Group introduced its new‑generation ProLine pitched‑roof system. With a completely new profile geometry, it achieves lower material use and higher load‑bearing capacity, while a tool‑free single connector greatly improves installation speed. At the RE+ show in September 2022, Schletter presented its 1P single‑axis tracking system for the first time in North America, optimised for large‑format and bifacial modules, with significantly reduced material consumption per unit power compared to previous generations.

Highlight 5: IIT Delhi Develops Revolutionary Portable Solar Tower

On the research front, a team at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) developed an innovative portable solar PV tower in 2022. The design offers both non‑mechanical and mechanical tracking options. Using only 50%‑60% of roof space, it can generate 20%‑30% more electricity. The non‑mechanical tracking tower achieves all‑day tracking through an ingenious arrangement of highly reflective mirrors, maintaining irradiance above 1000 W/m². The patented technology has been licensed to EP Sunsol for commercial deployment.

III. Industry Challenges: Raw Material Costs and Market Awareness Pressures

Despite significant progress, the advanced solar mounting industry faced multiple challenges in 2022.

Raw material cost pressure: In 2022, prices of steel, aluminium, and other commodities remained persistently high. Coupled with rising international logistics costs, this put considerable pressure on mounting manufacturers. Tilman Elsner, Senior Vice President of Engineering at the Schletter Group, noted: “Against the background of high steel, logistics and transport costs, reducing material usage per unit power is currently the core consideration in product development.”

Insufficient tracker market penetration: Although tracking brackets offer clear power generation advantages, in the Chinese market, tracker penetration remains far below that of mature markets such as the United States, due to higher initial investment and limited market awareness. Tracker penetration in the US ground‑mount market is about 70%, while in China it is only about 20%. As large‑scale desert and Gobi base projects accelerate, this gap is expected to gradually narrow.

IV. Future Outlook: Intelligence, Lightweighting and Globalisation in Parallel

Looking forward, the development of advanced solar mounting systems will continue to deepen along the following directions:

First, deeper integration of AI and digital twins. AI‑assisted algorithms will expand from tracking control to full lifecycle management, including weather forecasting, proactive operation and maintenance, and fault warning. Digital tools such as Schletter’s planning software and AEROCOMPACT’s Aerotool engineering design tool are becoming industry standards.

Second, continuous optimisation of materials and structures. Lightweight design will permeate the entire industrial chain from profiles to connectors, using high‑strength aluminium alloys, new composite materials, etc., to reduce system weight, roof loads, and transportation costs.

Third, accelerated global layout. Chinese mounting companies are speeding up overseas production capacity. Arctech has built a 3 GW manufacturing plant in Gujarat, India. Companies such as Antaisolar and Grace Solar are also deepening their presence in Japan, Europe, the Middle East, and other markets.

Fourth, rapid expansion into emerging application scenarios such as floating PV and flexible mounting systems. In August 2022, at an online seminar hosted by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), the design and development of floating PV and flexible PV mounting systems became a key discussion topic, indicating that these new scenarios are gradually maturing.