In 2022, the global energy transition accelerated significantly due to multiple driving forces, and the photovoltaic (PV) industry experienced unprecedented growth. As the “skeleton” of PV power plants, the ground-mount systems market also entered a phase of rapid development. Throughout the year, ground-mount systems not only maintained a dominant share in installed capacity but also demonstrated strong vitality in technological innovation, project implementation, and competitive dynamics among companies.

Market Surge: Ground-Mounted Capacity Exceeds 60% of Total

Global PV demand remained strong in 2022. Considering supply across the value chain, global PV installations exceeded 250 GW, a year-on-year increase of nearly 50%. Ground-mount systems played a key role in this growth. Data shows that ground-mounted PV accounted for over 60% of global PV capacity additions in 2022, with China, the United States, Germany, and India as the primary growth engines.

Focusing on the Chinese market, new installed capacity reached 87.41 GW in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 59.27%. Among this, utility-scale (mainly large ground-mounted plants) added 36.294 GW. As a core component of PV power plants, the importance of mounting structures became increasingly evident. Reports indicate that the global solar PV mounting systems market was valued at approximately US$24.1 billion in 2022. Within China, the PV mounting structure industry formed a competitive landscape led by companies such as Jiangsu Guoqiang, Arctech Solar, and Esun Solar.

Technology Leadership: Tracking and Flexible Mounts Make Strides

In 2022, the technology roadmap for ground-mount PV systems exhibited diversified progress, with smart tracking mounts and flexible mounting structures emerging as two highlights.

Tracking mount technology demonstrated great potential for significantly reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). For example, in the first “waste dump” smart tracking PV system in Panzhihua, China, Trina Solar deployed the “Pioneer 1P” tracker in 2022, with each unit capable of holding up to 120 modules. Through intelligent tracking, the system achieved a power generation gain of 10% to 15%. Flexible mounting technology also achieved breakthroughs in 2022. Innovative designs by companies such as Sumec Energy adopted a flexible support system using suspension, tensioning, bracing, and spanning methods, enabling large-span layouts. This provided an excellent solution for ground-mounted plants in complex terrains such as mountains, barren slopes, and fishponds. Additionally, progress was made in quick-assembly structures for PV mounts, addressing height differences caused by uneven ground and meeting various installation requirements.

Dynamic Competition: Leading Companies Accelerate Capacity Expansion and Global Footprint

Market prosperity prompted leading companies to accelerate capacity expansion and global layout. Nextracker, the U.S. tracking mount giant, made frequent moves in 2022. In May, Nextracker partnered with Atkore to build a new production line in Arizona, dedicated to manufacturing utility-scale steel trackers, aiming to mitigate supply chain risks and meet U.S. market demand.

Chinese companies, while consolidating their domestic market position, actively expanded overseas. At the 2022 All-Energy Australia exhibition, Esun Solar showcased newly optimized products specifically designed to address high local labor costs, significantly reducing project installation costs – highlighting the global competitiveness of Chinese PV mounting structure companies.

Flagship Projects: Large Ground-Mounted Plants Sprout Worldwide

In 2022, several landmark large-scale ground-mounted PV projects reached grid connection both domestically and internationally, serving as excellent examples of ground-mount systems application.

In China, Gansu Province’s first large-scale ground-mounted PV plant under the 14th Five-Year Plan achieved full-capacity grid connection in May. The project adopted a “PV + ecological restoration” model, laying blue PV “new clothes” over high-altitude barren hills. In August, the country’s first large-scale centralized ground-mounted PV plant integrated into an incremental distribution network began generating power, pioneering a new model for renewable energy consumption. In December, the first ground-mounted PV project of the “wind-solar-water-storage-fire” integrated energy base in Chongzuo, Guangxi, constructed by China Energy Engineering Group, successfully connected to the grid – becoming a typical example of an integrated energy base.

On the overseas front, the 800 MW PV project in Qatar, built by Chinese companies, achieved full-capacity grid connection before the World Cup. As Qatar’s first large-scale ground-mounted PV plant, it strongly supported the hosting of a “carbon-neutral” World Cup.