In 2023, driven by the global energy transition and the "dual carbon" strategy, the metal solar roof bracket industry entered a period of rapid growth. Photovoltaic (PV) profile output surged, new material technologies achieved successive breakthroughs, and companies accelerated their domestic and overseas expansion, presenting a vibrant development landscape across the entire industry chain.

Sharp Output Increase, Aluminum Bracket Capacity "Soars"

Against the backdrop of sustained strong PV installation demand, PV profile production saw a leapfrog increase in 2023. According to industry research estimates, PV profile output for the year reached approximately 4.01 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 63.67%. Among this, aluminum PV bracket output was 1.346 million tons (+72.42% YoY), and aluminum PV frame output reached 2.664 million tons (+59.59% YoY). Newly installed distributed PV capacity reached 94 GW, becoming the main driver of aluminum bracket demand.

With the rapid development of the new energy sector, PV profiles have become a key growth area for the entire profile industry. Leading aluminum frame companies expanded their capacity to around 920,000 tons, with plans to further increase production, leading to a gradual rise in industry concentration. At the same time, many building profile manufacturers pivoted to the PV sector. However, the industry is crowded with numerous small and medium-sized enterprises engaging in price competition, squeezing profit margins. Leading players, leveraging their capital and technology advantages, are capturing market share, accelerating an industry shakeout.

Steelmakers Compete, New Material Technologies Achieve Success

In 2023, steel enterprises turned their attention to the PV bracket market as a "new blue ocean," with demand for PV bracket steel continuously expanding. According to a report by CUsteel, approximately 56 tons of steel are used per 1 MW of PV power station construction. Based on 87.41 GW of newly installed PV capacity in 2022, the incremental steel demand for PV brackets was about 485,000 tons. Meanwhile, China Commercial Industry Research Institute data showed that the domestic PV bracket market size reached RMB 21 billion in 2023, potentially growing to RMB 25.3 billion in 2024.

In terms of technological innovation, steel enterprises achieved major breakthroughs. In April, Baowu Central Research Institute globally launched a super weather-resistant tie-rod steel for PV brackets, the first of its kind. The product requires no coating or maintenance over its entire life cycle and offers over 150% improvement in material toughness, providing key support for the PV industry's transition from "manufacturing green" to "green manufacturing."

Pangang Group also made significant progress, successfully developing a 1.5 mm thick, 800 MPa tensile strength hot-rolled weather-resistant steel plate, enabling mass production of a full range of high-strength weather-resistant steel for PV brackets. Using this new product, steel consumption for PV brackets under the same conditions is only one-third of the original amount, substantially reducing customer costs. Pangang became one of only two domestic companies issuing a commitment that "the product meets the 25-year stable service life requirement for PV brackets."

In the residential PV sector, zinc-aluminum-magnesium (ZAM) coated steel became the mainstream choice for metal roof brackets. Driven by both rural revitalization and the "dual carbon" strategy, residential PV entered a fast track. HBIS Group Tangshan Steel actively tapped this niche market, with monthly ZAM product supply repeatedly hitting new highs. In the first half of the year, total orders for PV-grade ZAM products reached 170,000 tons, earning the company a place on the "approved procurement list" of leading companies like Chint Anneng.

Notably, in October, China's first batch of hot-dip ZAM rare earth multi-alloy steel coils was successfully rolled in Inner Mongolia. Its corrosion resistance exceeds that of traditional hot-dip galvanized steel by more than ten times, reaching world-class and domestic leading levels, filling a product gap in PV bracket raw materials.

In addition, Jixin Steel's H-shaped steel pile PV brackets quickly gained market traction, capturing a 35% domestic market share and being used in nearly 100 ultra-high voltage projects in Japan, the US, and the EU.

Companies Accelerate "Going Global", Tracking Bracket Market Expands

In terms of global expansion, Chinese PV bracket manufacturers are accelerating their overseas presence. In the first half of 2023, China's total PV product exports exceeded USD 29 billion, a year-on-year increase of approximately 13%. The number of global GW-level markets is expected to grow from 26 in 2022 to 32.

Arctech's 2023 tracking bracket shipments are estimated to reach around 7 GW, double the 3.33 GW shipped in 2022. According to a recent report by Wood Mackenzie, global PV tracking bracket shipments grew 28% year-on-year to 92 GW in 2023, with the top ten suppliers accounting for 90% of the global market share. Although the penetration rate of tracking brackets in China's utility-scale projects remains low (with a market size of about 4.3 GW in 2023), the outlook is promising as large-scale base projects accelerate.

In the Taiwan market, Yieh Phui Steel benefited from the global green energy trend, selling 80,000 tons of steel for PV bracket systems in 2023, surpassing its full-year 2022 sales, with significant gains in both domestic and export markets. At the same time, Yieh Phui partnered with panel maker AUO to develop SunSteel photovoltaically integrated profiled sheets, achieving BIPV integration services. The first cooperation project has a capacity of 1 MW, with plans to enter the European market.

Policies Support High-Quality Industry Development

In 2023, national and local governments issued multiple supportive policies for the PV bracket industry. From actively developing solar and other new energy sources during the 11th Five-Year Plan period to clearly defining a parallel development model for centralized and distributed energy during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, demand for PV brackets has continued to rise. In April 2023 alone, 15 PV-related policies were issued nationwide, covering areas such as wind and solar development and industrial chain coordination.