1. North American Market: Polar Racking Community Solar Projects (Maine, USA)

Time: May 2023
Location: Maine, USA

Solar developer UGE awarded Polar Racking, a North American solar mounting supplier, contracts for three fixed-tilt ground‑mount community solar projects with a total capacity of 6.6 MWDC.

The projects are located in Norway (1.1 MW), Qualey (2.7 MW), and Broadway (2.8 MW). Polar Racking supplied its CORE series fixed‑tilt ground mounting system, engineering designs, and foundations. The sites have exceptionally high snow loads (80‑90 psf) and are located in high wind and snow zones in the northeastern US. Polar Racking’s mounting solution was selected for its performance under extreme weather conditions.

The Norway project was nearing completion in May 2023, while the other two were scheduled to start construction in summer 2023. The diverse site conditions required screw pile foundations as well as cast‑in‑place ballasted foundations on a landfill.

“Polar Racking is honoured to be selected for these Maine projects… We believe the CORE series will continue to stand out among other fixed‑tilt ground mount products.”
— Vishal Lala, General Manager of Polar Racking

 2. Brownfield Development: Landfill Solar Project in New York (10 MW)

Time: July 2023
Location: New York, USA

Developer SolarBank Corp. awarded Polar Racking a contract to supply ground‑mount solutions for two landfill solar projects in New York State, with a total capacity of 10 MWdc.

The projects are in Manlius and Geddes, repurposing two closed landfills to transform contaminated land into clean energy assets. Polar Racking supplied its CORE fixed‑tilt ground mounting system and ballasted foundations.

Polar Racking was selected for its innovative ballasted foundation product line (designed for fixed‑tilt and trackers to anchor on landfills) and its previous experience on a 92.5 MW landfill project in Alberta, Canada.

“We selected Polar Racking’s ground‑mount solution because of the innovative and proven engineering behind it… Companies like Polar Racking are pushing the boundaries of where we can safely build large solar projects.”
— Andrew van Doorn, COO of SolarBank

 3. New Product Launch: Trina Solar Introduces FixOrigin Fixed‑Tilt System

Time: June 2023
Location: Global

Trina Solar announced in June 2023 the launch of its FixOrigin fixed‑tilt ground mounting system, designed for regions with high diffuse and indirect radiation, offering a cost‑effective solution.

FixOrigin offers two structural options:

Monopost structure: Suitable for varying terrain features and spatial conditions

Bipost structure: Compatible with multiple module configurations (2P, 3P, 4L, 6L)

The system supports high‑power modules up to 670W+, is compatible with various foundation types (soft soil, hard soil, rock, low‑bearing‑capacity ground), and has passed wind tunnel tests, maintaining structural stability at wind speeds up to 100 km/h. Installation requires no cutting, drilling, or welding, enabling fast construction, and it comes with a 10‑year structural warranty.

4. Market Performance: Schletter Ground‑Mount Business Grows 162% Year‑on‑Year

Time: November 2023
Location: Global (focus: Europe, Middle East, Asia)

Schletter Group, a global leading photovoltaic mounting manufacturer, reported its Q3 2023 financial results. Its ground‑mount business segment (including fixed‑tilt and trackers) achieved year‑on‑year revenue growth of 162%, reaching approximately €50 million.

Despite challenges in the European rooftop solar market, demand for ground‑mount systems continued to grow, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The Q3 growth was driven by a significant increase in tracker installations and several large fixed‑tilt orders, including:

Germany: 105 MWp

Dominican Republic: 50 MWp

Turkey: 20 MWp

China, South Korea, etc.

Notably, Schletter’s ground‑mount revenue exceeded its rooftop mounting revenue for the first time, achieving the company’s strategic milestone of “balanced revenue from both product lines.” The company expects to increase its internal production capacity by 200% by 2024 through expansion at its Turkish plant.

“It is clear that demand for our fixed‑tilt and tracking systems is intensifying… This speaks not only to the quality and durability of our proven fixed‑tilt products but also to the innovation of our tracking systems.”
— Florian Roos, CEO of Schletter Group

 5. Academic Research: Optimising Row Spacing for Fixed‑Tilt Arrays

Time: July 2023
Journal: Solar Energy, Volume 258

A study published in the academic journal Solar Energy systematically analysed the optimal row spacing (Ground Coverage Ratio, GCR) for fixed‑tilt PV arrays. Using the 3D view‑factor model DUET, the study provided optimal spacing formulas for latitudes from 15°N to 75°N under different installation configurations.

Key findings:

The GCR range for fixed‑tilt arrays (0.15–0.68) is much wider than for single‑axis trackers (0.17–0.32) or vertical east‑west arrays (0.11–0.16)

The optimal tilt angle for fixed‑tilt modules can vary from “latitude+7°” to “latitude‑60°” depending on conditions

At high latitudes (>55°N), tracking and fixed‑tilt arrays should use similar row spacing

Bifacial modules require a GCR 0.03 lower than monofacial modules

This study provides important guidance for PV plant layout design in high‑latitude regions and land‑constrained conditions.

 Summary: Three Key Trends in Fixed‑Tilt Mounting (2023)

Diversified project applications – Fixed‑tilt mounting is not only used in conventional ground‑mount plants but has also successfully entered challenging sites such as landfills and high‑snow‑load areas, proving its technical adaptability.

Continuous product iteration – New‑generation fixed‑tilt systems (e.g., Trina Solar FixOrigin) feature modular design, compatibility with high‑power modules, and simplified installation, further reducing levelised cost of electricity.

Strong market demand growth – Schletter Group’s 162% year‑on‑year growth shows that although trackers are gaining share in large ground‑mount plants, fixed‑tilt mounting maintains strong global demand thanks to its reliability, durability, and cost advantages.