I. Explosive Growth in PV Installations Drives Strong Demand for Cable Trays

The global solar market performed exceptionally well in 2024. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global新增光伏装机 reached 582 GW in 2024. Entering 2025, this growth momentum further accelerated – data released by the global energy think tank Ember showed that global新增风能与太阳能装机容量 reached a historic record of 814 GW in 2025, with solar leading the way at 647 GW of new installations, an 11% increase over 2024. Statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) confirmed this trend, reporting global新增太阳能装机 at 511 GW in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 27.2%.

China, as the world’s absolute leader in PV installations, contributed the most significantly. According to the 2025 PV power generation construction data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA), China’s annual新增并网容量 reached 316.574 GW, with cumulative grid-connected capacity reaching approximately 1,199.9 GW by the end of 2025. IEA data also shows that China added nearly 370 GW of solar PV capacity in 2025, accounting for more than half of the global total and a 13% increase over 2024. The continued expansion of China’s PV industry provides a vast application scenario for the cable tray market.

The rapid growth of the solar PV industry has directly stimulated demand for cable trays. According to market research institutions, the global cable management market reached $28.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $51.6 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.46%. Within this, cable trays – as an important component of cable management systems – performed particularly strongly.

II. Global Cable Tray Market Size and Growth Trends

The global cable tray market performed strongly in 2024. According to Mordor Intelligence, the cable tray market size is expected to reach $5.02 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $8.28 billion by 2030, with a CAGR as high as 10.54% during the forecast period. This growth is mainly driven by the continued expansion of the renewable energy sector, especially the increasing need for structured cable management in solar and wind power projects.

Looking at market segments, the BESS (battery energy storage system) segment saw particularly rapid growth in cable tray demand. According to MarketIntelo, the global BESS cable tray market size was $1.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 10.7%. With the accelerated deployment of PV+storage projects worldwide, the BESS cable tray market is expected to become one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry.

Solar-specific cable management systems are also growing rapidly. MarketIntelo data shows that the global solar cable management system market size was $2.3 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $6.7 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 12.4%. This growth rate is higher than the general cable management market, fully reflecting the urgent need for specialized cable management solutions in the PV industry.

In terms of material composition, steel cable trays still dominate the market. According to Reports and Markets, the global ladder cable tray market size reached a certain scale in 2024 and is expected to maintain steady growth through 2031. Among these, hot-dip galvanized steel trays are most widely used in large-scale ground-mount PV plants due to their excellent corrosion resistance and low cost. At the same time, aluminum cable trays are gaining increased application in rooftop distributed PV projects due to their lightweight advantages – according to statistics, the welded snap-fit design of aluminum trays can improve installation efficiency by 50% compared to traditional steel trays.

In the US market, the wire and cable management market was valued at approximately $4.939 billion in 2024, with the cable tray segment closely tied to renewable energy and infrastructure spending. The US solar industry alone added 18 GW of capacity in the first half of 2025, with solar and storage projects accounting for 82% of newly added grid generation capacity during the same period. This high-growth momentum effectively drives demand for cable trays in the US market.

Taking aluminum trays as an example, their growth rate is considerable. Aluminum trays are typically anodized to provide excellent weather resistance and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for coastal and high-humidity environments. Coupled with their lightweight characteristics, which reduce transportation and installation costs, they are gaining increasing attention – this is especially important in distributed PV and rooftop PV projects.

III. Technological Evolution: Material Innovation and Smart Upgrades

(I) Widespread Application of Aluminum Cable Trays

Aluminum cable trays have been widely used in PV projects in 2024 due to their lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, and ease of installation. Particularly in scenarios such as factory rooftop PV deployment and complex pipe/cable routing, aluminum trays have become the preferred solution for modern industrial buildings.

Technological innovation in aluminum trays continues to advance. New welded snap-fit designs use a weld-free structure, increasing installation efficiency by 50% compared to traditional steel trays, while also offering ±15° tilt adaptability to accommodate various complex installation environments. For outdoor PV projects, aluminum trays after anodization have significantly improved weather resistance, ensuring long-term stability.

(II) Differentiated Development of PVC and FRP Cable Trays

PVC cable trays demonstrate unique advantages in rooftop PV installations. Made of insulating material, PVC trays offer excellent weather resistance and UV resistance, effectively combating aging from prolonged sun exposure. Additionally, PVC materials have excellent moisture resistance and oxidation resistance, meaning they do not suffer from oxidation corrosion even when used outdoors. They are quick and easy to install, making them particularly suitable for cable routing in rooftop distributed PV projects.

FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) cable trays, with their excellent chemical corrosion resistance and electrical insulation properties, are used in PV projects in special environments. FRP trays are lightweight and high-strength, capable of adapting to harsh conditions.

(III) Smart Cable Trays as an Emerging Trend

In 2024, the intelligent upgrade of cable trays became an important direction for industry development. Fourth-generation smart trays integrated with temperature sensors and current sensors can now provide 48-hour advance warning of cable faults, greatly improving the operational safety and reliability of PV plants. Meanwhile, the application of 5G technology and edge computing has enabled dynamic adjustment of tray ampacity with an accuracy of ±2%, allowing real-time optimization of cable current-carrying capacity based on actual load conditions.

This intelligent trend aligns with the digital transformation of the entire power system. Huawei launched its IDS smart distribution solution for the energy industry in 2024, aimed at addressing challenges such as high line losses, low power supply reliability, and grid pressure caused by rapid distributed PV development.

(IV) Continuous Evolution of Industry Standards

Standardization of cable trays made important progress in 2024. The IEC 61537:2023 standard sets clear technical requirements and testing specifications for cable tray systems and cable ladder systems, covering aspects such as design, construction, IEC type designation, and various performance tests. Meanwhile, the NEMA BI 50016-2024 (formerly NEMA VE 2-2018) cable tray installation guide provides detailed instructions for transportation, handling, storage, installation, and system maintenance.

On the domestic front, China’s cable tray design codes have also been continuously improved, providing more systematic guidance on material selection, structural design, and installation requirements. The implementation of these standards not only ensures the quality and safety of cable tray products but also provides important technical support for the sustainable development of the industry.

IV. Technical Specifications and Design Considerations for PV Cable Trays

Cable tray design in PV plants must follow multiple technical specifications. Regarding tray selection, material requirements vary by application scenario: hot-dip galvanized steel trays are preferred for large ground-mount plants due to their high load capacity and economic cost; lightweight aluminum trays are favored for rooftop distributed PV; and FRP materials are more suitable for corrosive environments such as chemical plant areas.

Cable fill ratio is a key design parameter. According to relevant standards, the fill ratio for power cables in trays should generally not exceed 40-50%, and for control cables, 50-70%, with 10-25% spare capacity for future expansion. This requirement ensures adequate heat dissipation space for cables during operation while providing flexibility for future system expansion.

In practical PV system applications, cable trays must also comply with various electrical safety standards. For example, cable cleats must comply with IEC 61914:2015 to ensure they can withstand earth faults, and PV modules must comply with IEC 61215 regarding general conditions for outdoor PV installations. Only systems that are fully compliant in material selection, design, and installation can guarantee safe and stable operation of PV plants over their 25-year operational life.

V. Key Company Developments and Innovation Highlights

In 2024, major global cable tray manufacturers intensified product innovation and market deployment in the PV sector.

Snake Tray, one of the world’s most innovative cable tray manufacturers, continues to advance PV cable management technology. With over 35 patents, the company launched a new product line for utility-scale solar plants called Solar Snake Max—Single Messenger Wire in 2024. This product is specifically designed to address ampacity derating of high-current DC cables in large PV plants. Snake Tray’s business covers various PV applications, including utility-scale solar plants, floating solar arrays, solar carports, battery energy storage systems, and EV charging stations.

AWM launched three new cable management products for utility-scale solar projects in September 2024. Among them, Sumac Rail – a design for clustering breakers and traversing drive tracks – is positioned as an alternative to traditional trays in short-distance cable management scenarios, aiming to reduce project costs by reducing the number of ground piles and steel usage. Its unique “no-sag” design allows cables to be uniformly laid out across the entire field, ensuring consistent ampacity.

SSAB and Meka Pro Oy reached an agreement in September 2024 to manufacture cable ladder and tray systems using fossil-free steel, which will be used in Meka’s solar product line. The project will begin implementation in 2026, marking an important step toward carbon-neutral manufacturing in the cable tray industry.

In the Chinese market, Tongwei Solar (Yancheng) Co., Ltd. obtained a patent for a cable storage device in 2024, aimed at reducing the impact of cables on PV module production and installation. Huawei Digital Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. filed patents for a smart junction box and PV system for PV modules in 2024, aiming to reduce the length and number of external cables at the source. At the same time, Huawei also obtained a patent for a “PV module and PV device” that can eliminate input cables of electronic modules and reduce the number of terminals.

It is worth noting that some innovative cable management products introduced in the US market in 2024 are attempting to replace certain applications of traditional cable trays through structural innovations. While these alternatives show some competitiveness in short-distance and specific scenarios, traditional cable trays remain mainstream in the overall market landscape due to their reliability, durability, and standardization advantages in large-scale PV plants.