In 2022, as the global energy transition accelerated, the solar structure industry – the "skeleton" of PV power plants – also experienced rapid development. From the widespread adoption of flexible mounting systems, to the market breakthrough of trackers, and innovative ground‑integrated mounting solutions, technological advances are opening up new possibilities for PV plant construction. This article reviews the key events in the ground‑mounted solar structure sector in 2022 from three perspectives: market landscape, technological innovation, and development trends.

I. Market Overview: Fixed Tilt Still Dominant, Trackers Gaining Ground

In 2022, the Chinese solar structure market reached RMB 19 billion, an increase of 8.6% year‑on‑year. Driven by continuous growth in global PV installations, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the solar structure market is expected to be 19.5% from 2021 to 2025. From a product mix perspective, fixed‑tilt structures – with their low cost and simple design – remained the most widely used product, capturing the majority of the market share.

At the same time, the tracker market grew rapidly. In 2022, the share of tracking systems in China reached 12%. According to Arctech’s annual report, tracker shipments increased 43% year‑on‑year, significantly improving delivery volumes. This growth was mainly driven by the rising number of ground‑mounted power plant installations and the clear advantages of trackers in reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).

II. Technological Innovation Highlights

1. Flexible Mounting Systems: Large Span, High Efficiency

2022 saw concentrated breakthroughs in flexible mounting technology. The flexible PV support system independently developed by CISPDR Corporation uses a pre‑stressed cable structure with spans from 20 to 40 metres (and up to 100 metres). Modules can be installed 2 to 30 metres above ground, offering significantly fewer piles and high ground clearance. This technology has already been applied in Guangxi, where it effectively resists wind‑induced vibration, avoids micro‑cracks in modules and supports multi‑purpose land use.

Northeast China’s first large‑area flexible mounting PV project – the West Wastewater Treatment Plant PV project – achieved full‑capacity grid connection in May 2022, proving the engineering feasibility of flexible structures on complex terrain. Sumec Energy also obtained a utility model patent for flexible mounting systems, using a suspension‑tension‑support‑bracing method that allows multi‑directional installation, providing a good solution for large‑span applications such as mountains, slopes, fishponds and woodlands.

2. Ground‑Integrated Mounting: A “No‑Structure” Cost Revolution

In 2022, the “Earth Mount” ground‑integrated PV mounting solution from US startup Erthos drew significant industry attention. This technology places PV modules directly on the ground, eliminating traditional steel structures and reducing plant costs by up to 20%. Erthos completed a USD 17.5 million financing round and later a USD 40 million Series C, and signed a 107 MW memorandum of understanding with customers. In December 2022, its first 100‑MW‑scale project was announced in Texas, with an expected grid‑connected capacity of 100 MW.

3. Rapid‑Install and Modular Design: New Directions for Cost & Efficiency

Improving installation efficiency became a core design direction for mounting products in 2022. Xiamen Youju New Energy developed a “quick‑install adapter for solar structures” that passed technical evaluation. This adapter enables fast installation between rails and support beams, effectively compensating for height differences caused by uneven ground.

In the Australian market, Gsolar launched pre‑assembled mounting products specifically to address high local labour costs, significantly reducing on‑site installation expenses. At Intersolar 2022, discussions among mounting manufacturers centered on supply chains and installation efficiency – with rising raw material prices, optimising structure design to reduce steel consumption became an industry consensus.

4. Trackers: From “Optional” to “Essential”

In 2022, several landmark tracker projects were deployed globally. Trina Solar supplied Pioneer 1P trackers for a mountain project in Inner Mongolia, with each tracker capable of holding up to 120 modules and delivering a 10‑15% power generation gain through its intelligent tracking system. Arctech shipped SkyLine II single‑axis trackers for the 80 MW Sierras de Ullum PV project in Argentina – its first large‑scale ground‑mount project in the country. Soltec supplied 2,068 SF7 trackers for a 56 MW ground‑mount PV project on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

III. Industry Challenges and Risks

The mounting industry also faced challenges in 2022. Raw material prices continued to rise and fluctuated frequently, putting considerable pressure on manufacturers’ cost control. Meanwhile, the engineering reliability of flexible mounting systems was questioned – after modules at a fishery‑solar hybrid plant were torn off due to wind loads, the industry was reminded to pay close attention to wind resistance design and construction quality when promoting flexible solutions at scale.