In 2022, driven by China’s “dual carbon” strategy and the global energy transition, the ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) mounting system industry experienced rapid development. The market size continued to expand, technological innovations made continuous breakthroughs, large-scale ground power station projects were intensively connected to the grid, and the industry demonstrated strong growth momentum. As the “skeleton” of PV power stations, ground-mounted PV mounting systems directly affect the power generation efficiency and investment returns of PV power plants, making them a core component of all ground-mounted PV stations. This article reviews the ground-mounted PV mounting system industry in 2022 from five dimensions: market size, technological innovation, company dynamics, major projects, and policy environment.

I. Market Size Continues to Expand, with Tracking Brackets Becoming a Growth Highlight

In 2022, the scale of China’s PV mounting system market reached RMB 19 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%. With the continuous growth of newly installed PV capacity, market demand for PV mounting systems remained strong. In terms of product structure, fixed mounting systems still represent the most widely used type of PV mounting system due to their lower cost and simple structure. Notably, the market penetration of tracking mounting systems is steadily increasing. According to statistics from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), the market share of tracking systems in China reached 12% in 2022, hitting a record high in recent years, driven by substantial growth in installed ground-based power station capacity.

From a global perspective, as of the end of 2022, a total of 185 GW of solar PV smart tracking mounting systems had been installed worldwide, accounting for 26.35% of total ground-mounted PV mounting systems. The global solar tracker market was valued at approximately US$7.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to US$31.4 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1%, demonstrating the significant growth potential of this sub‑sector.

II. Accelerated Technological Innovation, with Smart and Flexible Mounting Systems Becoming New Directions

In 2022, technological innovation in the ground-mounted PV mounting system field showed diversified development trends, with intelligent tracking technology and flexible mounting systems becoming industry focal points.

Intelligent level of tracking mounting systems continues to improve. Compared to traditional fixed mounting systems, tracking mounting systems can increase power generation by 15% to 25%. Relying on intelligent tracking algorithms, the new generation of tracking systems can accurately calculate the optimal tilt angle of the system, avoid shadows between arrays in real time, reduce power loss due to shading, and simultaneously provide monitoring, diagnostics, and data analysis functions, enabling remote monitoring of all equipment across the plant and human‑machine interconnection.

Application scenarios for flexible mounting systems continue to expand. Flexible mounting systems, which are prestressed flexible cable structures fixed at both ends that support PV modules over large spans, offer inherent advantages such as flexible adjustment, fewer piles, large spans, and high clearance. They are especially suitable for complex terrains such as mountains, hills, as well as tidal flats and fish ponds. In 2022, the flexible PV mounting system independently developed by Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design and Research was successfully applied in Guangxi and achieved good results. The related patented products have been applied on a large scale in Huarong County, Hunan Province, and elsewhere.

Breakthroughs in technology adapted for bifacial modules. With the increasing popularity of bifacial modules, PV mounting system technologies adapted for bifacial modules have also emerged. Jusheng Technology innovatively applied technologies such as bifacial module power‑boosting technology and tracking mounting system efficiency‑enhancing technology in the “fishery‑PV” project in Gao’an City, Jiangxi Province. Compared to traditional PV power generation, this project increases annual power generation by approximately 16 million kWh.

III. Leading Companies Expand Capacity, Industry Concentration Expected to Rise

In 2022, faced with strong market demand, several leading PV mounting system companies accelerated capacity expansion to consolidate their market leadership positions.

Arctech Solar, a leading global player in PV mounting systems, announced a private placement plan in November 2022 to raise no more than RMB 1.151 billion for the expansion of parallel driver production capacity for tracking systems, the construction of a PV supporting industrial park, and the construction of a western tracking mounting system production and empirical base. According to the company’s annual report, the shipment volume of tracking mounting systems in 2022 increased by 43% compared to 2021, with a significant increase in shipment scale.

Yihua Enterprise also benefited from strong demand for PV mounting systems. In 2022, the company expects to achieve a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 200–250 million, a year‑on‑year increase of 47.45% to 84.31%. The company plans to raise no more than RMB 533 million through a private placement for the construction of a production base for core components of PV mounting systems in Yueqing.

GS-Solar introduced an internationally advanced fully automatic production line at its PV mounting system manufacturing base in Xiamen. The production base covers an area of 60,000 m² and has 15 self‑developed production lines with an annual production capacity of 10 GW, preparing for mass production orders in the second half of the year.

IV. Intensive Grid Connection of Large‑Scale Ground Power Station Projects

In 2022, a number of large‑scale ground‑mounted PV power station projects across China were completed and connected to the grid, strongly driving demand for PV mounting systems.

The first large‑scale PV ground‑mounted power station of Gansu Province’s 14th Five‑Year Plan was fully connected to the grid on May 15. Located in Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, the project had a total investment of RMB 730 million, covers an area of more than 6,000 mu, and has an average annual power generation of approximately 212 million kWh. Adopting a “PV + ecological restoration + forest and grass planting” model, the project intersperses sand‑adapted plants in the PV area, achieving the goals of ecological improvement and environmental protection.

The first large‑scale centralized ground‑mounted PV power station in China connected to an incremental distribution network began operation on August 31. Located in the Suhailu Road area of Lianyungang Xuwei New District, the PV power project had a total investment of approximately RMB 240 million, covers an area of about 700 mu, has an installed capacity of approximately 45 MWp, and generates about 54 million kWh annually. It is one of the first batch of pilot projects for incremental distribution network reform in China.

The first ground‑mounted centralized PV project of the China Energy Engineering Group Chongzuo Integrated Energy Base was connected to the grid on December 14. With a DC‑side installed capacity of 69.66 MW, the project generates about 77.7127 million kWh annually. The energy base has a total investment of RMB 82 billion and upon completion will produce approximately 26 billion kWh of electricity per year, of which new energy generation accounts for more than 50%.

In addition, several other key projects, including the first large‑scale ground‑mounted centralized PV project in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, and the 300 MW agricultural (fishery)‑PV complementary power generation project in Xishui County, Hubei Province, were connected to the grid or accelerated construction in 2022.

V. Continuously Improving Policy Environment, Industry Moving Toward High‑Quality Development

In 2022, the national policy support for the PV industry continued to intensify, creating a favorable development environment for the ground‑mounted PV mounting system industry.

A joint document issued by 12 government departments on February 18 clearly proposed organizing and implementing an innovation‑driven development action plan for the PV industry, implementing large‑scale wind and PV power base construction in desert, gobi, and barren land areas, and driving investment in the supply chains of solar cells and wind power equipment.

The National Energy Administration issued the “Measures for the Development and Construction Management of PV Power Stations,” prepared on November 30 and released on December 27, aiming to standardize the development and construction management of PV power stations, ensure clean, low‑carbon, safe, and efficient operation of PV power stations and the power system, and promote the sustainable, healthy, and high‑quality development of the PV power generation industry. These measures apply to industry management, annual development and construction plans, project construction management, and grid access management for centralized PV power stations.

As PV power generation enters a new stage of grid parity without subsidies, industry management has shifted from capacity‑based management to planning guidance and weight‑based incentive mechanisms. Provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) accordingly arrange project construction scales and reserves, with market mechanisms determining project investors and construction scales.