In 2022, the global energy transition continued to gain momentum. Driven by carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, the photovoltaic (PV) industry experienced unprecedented growth opportunities. As the “skeleton” of PV power plants, solar mounting brackets saw a critical turning point from adversity to recovery. Driven by falling polysilicon prices, accelerated construction of large-scale wind and solar bases, and continuous technological upgrades, the solar mounting bracket industry showed positive trends: rapid market expansion, steady increase in the penetration of tracking brackets, and the beginning of a domestic substitution cycle.

1. Industry Overview: An Inflection Year from Pressure to Recovery

2022 was a year of both challenges and opportunities for the solar mounting bracket industry. Over the previous two years, domestic PV bracket makers suffered from surging raw material costs, skyrocketing international freight rates, and rising polysilicon prices, which significantly squeezed profitability. Entering 2022, as steel prices gradually fell and polysilicon prices entered a downward channel, bracket companies began to see profit recovery. According to LeadLeo Research, the PV bracket industry was poised for a rebound, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% from 2021 to 2025.

In terms of market size, China’s PV bracket industry returned to growth after a period of adjustment from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, the market size rebounded to about RMB 17.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 51.91%. With continued growth in PV installations, China’s PV bracket market size in 2022 was expected to reach RMB 19 billion. Globally, the PV bracket market size grew to about RMB 58.216 billion in 2021, a year-on-year increase of roughly 61.8%.

In terms of installation demand, from January to August 2022, domestic PV project developers issued tenders for over 35.5 GW of brackets. The top three bidders by volume were State Power Investment Corporation (8.68 GW), PowerChina (6.15 GW), and Datang Group (5.74 GW). A total of 70 companies won bids, with Jiangsu Guoqiang Xingsheng, Arctech, and subsidiaries of PowerChina ranking in the top three. Trina Solar also indicated that its full-year 2022 bracket shipments were expected to grow by more than 50% compared to 1.8 GW in 2021.

2. Technology Trends: Accelerated Penetration of Tracking Brackets as a Key to Cost Reduction and Efficiency Gains

Solar mounting brackets are mainly divided into two types: fixed brackets and tracking brackets. Fixed brackets are installed at an angle that maximizes solar irradiation over the year; the angle is generally non-adjustable or requires manual adjustment. Tracking brackets actively adjust the module orientation to follow the sun in real time, maximizing solar irradiation and thus increasing power generation. Tracking brackets typically provide a 5–35% gain in power generation, and when paired with bifacial modules, they can achieve even greater results.

In 2022, the domestic tracking bracket market reached a critical inflection point in penetration. In 2020, the global penetration of tracking brackets had risen to 34.1% (nearly 80% in the US). In China, the penetration rate further increased to 21.56% in 2021, and was expected to reach 23% in 2022. Citic Securities noted that with falling polysilicon prices leading to lower module and installation costs, domestic ground-mounted PV installations are expected to grow rapidly in the coming year, and tracking brackets will directly benefit from this growth.

Three major drivers are accelerating the adoption of tracking brackets: improved power curtailment thanks to UHV transmission and energy storage capacity; large-scale wind and solar base construction providing ample application scenarios; and a shift in investment focus from upfront cost (RMB/W) to levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Huachuang Securities analyzed that the focus on LCOE makes owners pay more attention to lifecycle costs, making tracking brackets a key link in further reducing PV costs.

In terms of pricing, in 2022 fixed brackets cost about RMB 0.25/W, while tracking brackets cost about RMB 0.47/W. For a desert PV project in Qinghai, tracking brackets increased power generation by 17.52% compared to fixed brackets, delivering a return on the additional investment over the full operating cycle of up to 950.2%.

3. Technological Innovation: From Patent Breakthroughs to Product Iteration

In 2022, technological innovation in the solar bracket field was highly active. Many companies and research institutions achieved notable breakthroughs in bracket structure design, ease of installation, and adaptability to different scenarios.

(1) Abundant Patent Achievements

In October 2022, China Energy Engineering Group Shaanxi Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. obtained four new national utility model patents, including “a photovoltaic bracket for unstable slopes” and “a jack-type photovoltaic lifting bracket,” which can be widely used in mountain, terraced, desert, and unused ash pond PV projects. China Energy Yunnan Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. also received three utility model patents. One of them, “a tilt-adjustable photovoltaic bracket,” is suitable for small PV projects. Using simple and reliable mechanical components, it adjusts the tilt angle of PV module arrays, significantly increasing radiation received in summer and autumn, and features easy installation and high cost‑effectiveness.

Rixin Technology, a company listed on the NEEQ Innovation Layer, obtained a patent in August 2022 for “a novel single-pile single-hoop front-and-rear double-diagonal-brace PV mounting bracket,” which offers high installation efficiency, structural safety and reliability, and strong tolerance for civil foundation pile position errors. Shanmai Technology also obtained a patent for “a dual-angle adjustable solar mounting bracket,” allowing independent adjustment of the direction and tilt angle of solar panels, improving practicality.

(2) Rapid Rise of Flexible Bracket Technology

2022 saw flexible PV bracket technology become a hot topic. Tongwei’s Tianmen Phase I 100 MW “fishery-solar hybrid” PV project was successfully connected to the grid, fully leveraging the advantages of Tongwei’s patented flexible bracket design. The project achieved full flexible support and was Tongwei’s first large-scale single flexible bracket project in its terminal energy business segment.

The Fujian Petrochemical 21.05 MW PV project adopted a combination of flexible brackets and inverted membrane structures, covering an area of 160,000 m². The new patented flexible bracket system solved the problem of traditional structures being unable to achieve long spans, making it the largest distributed PV project in Fujian Province.

The Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design and Research has filed more than 10 patent applications for new flexible PV brackets, and related patented products are about to be applied on a large scale in Huarong County, Hunan Province, with expected application scale exceeding 100 MW.

Huiyao Pinyuan Energy Technology completed a tens-of-millions RMB Pre-A round of financing in December 2022, focusing on the development of cable‑structure flexible PV bracket systems. Its self-developed system has gained recognition from customers such as CHN Energy, Datang Group, and SPIC. Operational projects have successfully withstood typhoons, high winds, and sandstorms, operating stably.

(3) Continuous Upgrades of Tracking Bracket Products

Leading bracket companies such as Arctech continued to drive product innovation. Arctech’s signature product, the SkyWings II tracking system, features an industry‑first pentagonal main beam design combined with a pioneering multi‑point parallel drive mechanism, providing the highest stability at tracking angles. Its stow wind speed reaches 22 m/s, the highest in the industry. In 2022, Arctech successfully won a 20 MW tracking bracket project in Colorado, USA, demonstrating outstanding stability and safety in hurricane‑prone areas.

The Tianzhi II tracking system uses a worm‑gear multi‑point drive solution. When paired with large‑format bifacial modules, the system capacity per unit increases from 30 kW+ to 90 kW+, and the number of foundations is reduced by 52% compared to traditional single‑row vertical products. The system also integrates an AI tracking algorithm that collects and learns from irradiation data to achieve intelligent tracking control.

4. Company Developments: Accelerated Global Expansion by Leading Players

(1) Arctech: Strong Shipment Growth and Continued Overseas Breakthroughs

In 2022, Arctech achieved counter‑trend growth despite difficulties. According to its annual report, the company realized total operating revenue of RMB 3.703 billion, a year‑on‑year increase of 53.29%; net profit attributable to parent company shareholders was RMB 44.43 million, up 195.57% year‑on‑year. For the full year, fixed bracket shipments were about 7.22 GW and tracking bracket shipments about 3.33 GW, for total shipments of about 10.55 GW.

In international markets, Arctech achieved remarkable results. In December 2022, Arctech signed a 2.8 GW supply agreement for its SkyWings II tracking system with the largest project developer in Gujarat, India. This was another super‑scale order after the 2.1 GW Abu Dhabi project. This order brought Arctech’s total bracket shipments in India to 7 GW, firmly establishing its leading position in the Indian PV bracket market.

Earlier, Arctech established its first joint venture factory in India – Jash Energy – located in Mundra, Gujarat, with an annual capacity of 3 GW. It is India’s first facility dedicated to solar tracking bracket production. As of the third quarter of 2022, Arctech had orders on hand worth about RMB 2.74 billion, an increase of 77.6% from the beginning of the year, providing a solid foundation for future growth.

(2) Trina Solar: Rapid Bracket Business Growth

Trina Solar’s bracket business also performed strongly in 2022. Compared to 1.8 GW of bracket shipments in 2021, the company expected its 2022 full‑year bracket shipments to grow by more than 50%. At the end of 2022, TrinaTracker (Trina Solar’s smart tracking solutions provider) successively signed orders for 520 MW in Brazil and 875 MW in Qatar, demonstrating significant progress in global market expansion.

(3) International Competitive Landscape

In the global PV bracket market, in 2020 NEXTracker held the top spot with a 29.1% share, Array Technologies was second with 17.5%, and PVHardware third with 12.65%; the three‑firm concentration ratio (CR3) was about 59.25%. Arctech, as a local Chinese company, ranked fourth globally in tracking bracket market share, with approximately 8%. Dongxing Securities noted that domestic companies have stronger delivery guarantees under integrated production models, as well as quality control and cost advantages. They are optimistic that Chinese companies, through continuous technology iteration to produce high‑performance, cost‑effective products, will begin a cycle of domestic substitution.

5. Project Applications: Diverse Scenario Expansion

In 2022, solar brackets demonstrated outstanding adaptability and innovative value in a variety of application scenarios.

(1) Pioneering Tidal‑Solar Hybrid Project

In June 2022, the 100 MW Wenling tidal‑solar hybrid smart PV power generation project of CHN Energy Longyuan Power was completed and put into operation. This is China’s first tidal‑solar hybrid PV power station, integrating solar and lunar tidal energy, marking a new milestone in China’s new energy development. As the provider of the PV bracket system solution, Arctech overcame multiple challenges, including short construction windows in tidal flats and material transportation difficulties, to assemble over 4,000 tons of brackets on time and to specification.

(2) Integrated Fishery‑Solar Development

Tongwei’s Tianmen Phase I 100 MW “fishery-solar hybrid” PV project was successfully connected to the grid in June 2022, generating about 107 million kWh of electricity annually and reducing CO₂ emissions by about 85,600 tons per year. The project used flexible bracket technology, achieving full flexible support and laying the foundation for large‑scale application of flexible brackets in the future. Arctech’s Tianzhi II tracking system also supported a 60 MW fishery‑solar hybrid project by Sunshine New Energy, using a patented multi‑point parallel drive tracking system that stably accommodates large‑format bifacial modules.

(3) Large‑Scale Ground‑Mounted Power Stations

With the accelerated construction of large wind‑solar bases in 2022, many large‑scale ground‑mount projects came online. Arctech successfully delivered a 4.83 MW SkyWings tracking system for the Gar Creek project in Illinois, USA, which was visited by then‑US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. The company also established branches in Saudi Arabia, Chile, and Brazil to respond to local overseas market needs and enhance international supply chain delivery capabilities.

(4) Distributed PV and Building‑Integrated PV

Driven by the “county‑wide rollout” policy, the residential and commercial & industrial PV markets saw explosive growth. BIPV (building‑integrated PV) became a new growth driver. In 2022, Arctech’s BIPV business achieved revenue of RMB 393.49 million, an increase of 201.4% year‑on‑year, with projects covering 17 provinces and cities across China.

6. Policy Environment: Multiple Tailwinds Supporting Industry Development

In 2022, central and local governments issued a series of policies supporting the PV bracket industry. The “14th Five‑Year Plan for Modern Energy Systems” explicitly targets a non‑fossil fuel power generation share of about 39% by 2025. The “Action Plan for Innovative Development of the Smart Photovoltaic Industry (2021‑2025)” issued by five ministries including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology calls for significantly improved intelligentization of the PV industry by 2025 and continued promotion of BIPV demonstration projects, driving sustained demand for PV brackets.

The first batch of large‑scale wind and solar base project lists, focused on deserts, Gobi, and barren lands, was released at the end of 2021, covering 19 provinces with a total planned capacity of 97.05 GW. About 75 GW had started construction. These policy benefits, combined with the trend toward grid parity for PV, create vast development space for the solar bracket industry.