In 2022, ballasted PV mounting systems saw numerous landmark projects worldwide and experienced dual upgrades in materials and design:
World's Largest Urban PV Project Adopts Ballasted Technology: Polar Racking (Canada) announced it would supply its PRU ballasted fixed-tilt mounting system for two large-scale PV projects in Calgary, Alberta – Deerfoot and Barlow. With a total capacity of 92 MW DC and using 175,000 bifacial solar panels, the project will become the largest urban solar plant in Canada, generating enough electricity to power over 18,000 homes annually and reducing carbon emissions by 68,000 tons.
Ballasted System Application in Harsh Middle East Environment: In July, a 3.3 MW solar power system was successfully completed in Dubai, specifically using a hot-dip galvanized ground ballasted system. Its excellent corrosion resistance perfectly adapted to Dubai's extreme heat and high solar radiation, providing a valuable reference for similar climate zones worldwide.
Technological Breakthrough: Lightweight and Smart Become Mainstream: In 2022, the core technical focus was on "subtracting" through innovative design. Aerodynamic design significantly reduced wind resistance by optimizing the structure, effectively reducing the required ballast weight while lightening the roof load. Furthermore, installation became simpler and safer. For example, next-generation systems showcased at Intersolar Europe 2022 enabled tool-free installation; and the east-west ballasted system launched by UISolar in December featured most components pre-assembled at the factory, greatly saving on-site installation time and labor costs.
Product Innovations: More Flexible, More Powerful, Smarter
Several leading manufacturers introduced highly competitive new products in 2022, collectively driving the industry towards efficiency, flexibility, and intelligence:
K2 Systems – The South Face: This system garnered significant attention in the North American market. Its biggest highlight is supporting both portrait and landscape panel orientations, offering great design flexibility. It also features adjustable spacing between modules, which can significantly increase power density on the roof, and an optional patented roof protection mat that protects the roof while simplifying installation.
PowerField – PowerRack: This product offers a simple and clever solution. Its core is an "all-in-one channel box" that can be filled with on-site natural materials like stones or gravel for ballasting, making it especially suitable for remote areas where transportation is difficult.
UISolar – East-West Ballast System: Designed specifically to maximize space utilization on flat roofs. Its aerodynamically optimized design effectively reduces wind drag, thereby decreasing ballast weight and roof load. Meanwhile, the factory pre-assembled triangular brackets are foldable, greatly facilitating transportation and storage.
Mibet – Bi-directional Ballast System: Its unique bidirectional matrix design is the biggest highlight, achieving efficient wind resistance without the need for additional deflectors, thus reducing total system cost and weight. The system uses high-strength aluminum alloy and a patented structure to ensure long-term structural stability and reliability.
Market Review: The PV Mounting Industry in 2022
From a market perspective, the solar PV mounting industry also had a stellar year in 2022:
Global Market: According to research data, the global market for solar PV mounting systems was valued at US$21.24 billion in 2022.
China Market: Benefiting from strong policy drivers such as the national "county-wide promotion" program, installed PV capacity in China experienced explosive growth, directly driving high shipment volumes for PV mounting systems. In early 2022 alone, the volume of tenders for PV mounting systems in China reached nearly 16 GW. As a key technology to improve power generation efficiency, the market penetration rate of tracking systems also showed a steady upward trend.
