Introduction: A Transformative Year for PV Mounting

2024 marked a watershed year for the global solar PV mounting solutions industry. The market was driven by unprecedented demand for utility-scale solar, rapid technological advancements in tracking and flexible mounting systems, and a decisive shift toward non-penetrating and lightweight designs. The global solar PV mounting systems market was valued at USD 44.5 billion in 2024, with fixed mounting systems accounting for USD 30.7 billion of that total. The tracking systems segment is anticipated to reach USD 16.8 billion by 2034, reflecting the accelerating adoption of solar trackers in large-scale projects. The Asia Pacific region is forecasted to register a CAGR of 5.1% between 2025 and 2034, driven by urbanization, favorable government targets, and declining installation costs.

This report synthesizes key developments from industry analysts, manufacturer announcements, and project deployments to provide a comprehensive overview of the sector‘s transformation in 2024.

1. Market Milestones: Record Tracker Shipments and Regional Shifts

1.1 2024: A Record-Breaking Year for Trackers

The global PV tracker market achieved its strongest year ever in 2024, with shipments expanding 20% to a record 111 GWdc, according to Wood Mackenzie‘s “Global solar PV tracker market share 2024” report. S&P Global‘s analysis similarly estimated shipments increased 19% year‑over‑year to 112 GW.

The record growth was primarily driven by significant increases in shipments to India and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for 28 GW of tracker demand – surpassing the demand of all of Europe in 2024.

1.2 Regional Power Shifts

“The year was marked by the rapid growth of the Indian and Saudi Arabian tracker markets, which led to a shake-up of the U.S.-dominated podium from 2023,” noted Joe Shangraw, research associate at Wood Mackenzie.

United States: Remained the largest single market with 33 GWdc, though this represented a 9% decline — the first drop in eight years.

Middle East: Saudi Arabia emerged as a major force, with Saudi and Indian markets alone estimated at 28 GW of tracker demand.

China: Domestic tracker demand continued to decline for the second straight year, pushing Chinese vendors to expand aggressively overseas.

Europe: Remains one of the most competitive and diverse landscapes, with over nine vendors capturing between 5% and 15% of the market.

1.3 Tracker Technology: 1P Dominates, 2P Finds Niche

One-in-portrait (1P) trackers dominated the global market in 2024, accounting for 93% of shipments, due to their versatility and stability in windy conditions, despite commanding a higher price per watt. Europe remains the key market for two-in-portrait (2P) trackers due to tighter land constraints and agrivoltaics requirements, for which 2P trackers are more suited.

2. Competitive Landscape: A Reshuffled Global Order

The 2024 competitive landscape saw significant shifts, with Chinese manufacturers rising sharply in the global rankings.

2024 Global Tracker Rankings (Wood Mackenzie):

Data source: Wood Mackenzie

Nextracker‘s 39% year‑on‑year growth was its largest increase since 2018-2019, and the company expanded its market share in each major region. Arctech Solar, the largest Chinese-headquartered tracker supplier, jumped up market share rankings, overtaking Array, GameChange and PV Hardware. The company held a top-two position in both the Saudi and Indian tracker markets.

Several other Chinese vendors also ventured overseas for growth in 2024, as China‘s domestic tracker demand continued to decline for the second straight year. In the U.S., GameChange ranked second for the first time, overtaking Array Technologies, which experienced more than a 35% drop in domestic shipments. The top three — Nextracker, GameChange, and Array — still combined for nearly 90% of the total U.S. market.

India Market Leaders:

In the Indian solar module mounting structure market, Goodluck India led shipments with a market share of 25.3% in 2024, followed by Strolar Mounting Systems (17%) and Raydean Industries (13.8%). Mounting structures must endure seasonal variations and challenging conditions typical of solar power project sites in India.

3. Technology Breakthroughs: Flexible Mounts and Innovation

3.1 Flexible Mounts: Validated by Category 17 Typhoon

2024 was a landmark year for flexible mounting technology. DAS Solar‘s fourth-generation flexible mounting system, featuring a spatial cable-net structure, was installed in a 70 MW fishery PV project in Hainan, China. The system successfully withstood Super Typhoon Yagi (Category 17), with wind speeds exceeding 245 km/h (68 m/s), while the project located just 50 km from the typhoon‘s landing point remained stable and secure.

Key specifications of the system:

Height up to 9 meters; medium span of 20 meters; large span of 40 meters

East-west direction supported by two prestressed steel cables; north-south direction features a unique inter-row wind resistance system

Requires only 30 bolts per string – significantly fewer than the 228 bolts used in some other systems

Passed wind tunnel tests with wind speeds up to 46 m/s (equivalent to a level‑14 typhoon)

Steel usage: 25-30 tons per MW on hills, 18-25 tons per MW on flat ground

The project had already withstood several extreme weather tests, including typhoons Talim and Koinu with wind speeds surpassing level 12. This validation sets a new quality benchmark for flexible mounting systems in extreme weather conditions.

3.2 Rail-less Solutions for Metal Roofs

S-5!, the global leader in metal roof attachment solutions, added 50 new patents in 2024, bringing its total patent portfolio to 194 since its first patent application in 1991. These patents cover multiple global regions including the European Union (12), the United States (8), China (9), India (6), and Australia (4).

Most notably, the Indian Patent Office granted S-5! patent #423672-001 for its new Protea™ rail-less solar mounting solution, designed for mounting framed solar modules to trapezoidal metal roofs while providing certified electrical bonding and grounding.

Key certifications achieved in 2024:

FM 4478 listing for the Ensolro System (including PVKIT HUR 2.0), capable of withstanding wind uplift forces up to 150 psf in high-wind and hurricane zones

Florida Product Approvals (FPA) for High Velocity and Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) – a rigorous approval for high wind zones

S-5! is the first metal roof mounting system manufacturer in its distinctive product category to achieve these industry-defining accreditations. The company‘s solutions are now installed on more than 2.5 million metal roofs, representing 8 GW of rooftop solar.

3.3 AI-Enhanced Tracking with Hail Protection

Polar Racking unveiled a groundbreaking enhancement to its SOL-X single-axis tracker system in 2024: a new Hail Protection feature that automatically positions solar trackers to an optimal angle in anticipation of hailstorms, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system features a bi-directional high-tilt hail position angle (+/- 63°) to minimize risk during hail events, using various real-time meteorological data sources. This automated system adds a crucial layer of protection to trackers already designed for undulating terrain, heavy winds, snow, and frost.

3.4 Rectangular Bolt Innovation

GameChange Solar had its rectangular head racking bolt recognized per UL 2703 from Intertek. This patent-pending bolting solution addresses pry-out failures caused by extreme winds by having a larger bearing area on the module frame. Third-party testing per IEC 61215 showed increases in module capacity beyond 20% when compared to standard bolts. Additionally, the bolt‘s elongated head catches on the inside of the module frame during installation, allowing installers to torque the nut into place with one hand, improving installation rates.

4. New Product Launches

4.1 DCE Solar: UL 3741 Certified Roof Racking and Long Span S7

DCE Solar‘s Eco-Top Rooftop Mounting Structure achieved compliance with UL 3741 in July 2024, a certification that ensures the implementation of proper photovoltaic hazard controls. The system uses integrated wire management, eliminating additional wire management raceways and accessories. The UL 3741 compliance eliminates the need for module-level power electronics on arrays, translating into additional cost savings.

In August 2024, DCE Solar launched the Long Span S7, a racking system specifically designed to accommodate First Solar Series 7 modules for utility-scale solar projects. By integrating a unique rail and wedge mounting system, DCE Solar created a solution that supports the proprietary technology of the Series 7 with ease of installation on the racking.

4.2 Clenergy ST Ikon: Single-Technician Installation

At Intersolar Europe 2024, Clenergy introduced the PV-ezRack® SolarTerrace Ikon (ST Ikon), an innovative ground mounting solution. The system‘s standout feature is its ability to be installed by a single technician in either portrait or landscape orientation. The integration of pre-installed positioning clamps simplifies alignment, allowing for rapid assembly with minimal tools. Its modular design enhances adaptability to diverse site conditions, streamlining logistics and on-site handling – particularly beneficial for utility-scale projects.

4.3 AEROCOMPACT S_BASE: Four-Component Flat Roof Racking

At RE+ 2024, Austrian solar mounting manufacturer AEROCOMPACT debuted its latest flat roof racking, S_BASE, composed of four components: a lightweight aluminum ballast plate, standing bracket, wind screen, and module clamp. The structural elements are assembled by sliding the bracket into factory-made slots on the ballast plate that lock into place. The system is designed for ease of shipment – 144 ballast plates ship on a single pallet, accounting for 120 modules in a final array.

4.4 Antaisolar: 2P Universal Series Tracker

At SNEC 2024, Antaisolar exhibited its latest 2P Universal series tracking system, a multiple slew-drive single-axis independent-2P tracking system. Each tracker has more than one slew-drive mechanism, which can independently and accurately rotate PV modules connected in a 2P portrait configuration in sync with the sun’s movement. The tracker can accommodate 4 strings of 1,500 V system voltage, support 90 to 120 commercial modules per structure, and offers an east-west rotational range of +/- 60° over undulated terrain of up to 11° slope in a north-south direction. The tracker is certified for extreme wind loads of up to 55 m/s.

4.5 Vertical Solar Mounts: First UL 2703 Certification

Sunstall‘s vertical PV mounting system, Sunzaun, became the first vertical solar mounting system to achieve UL 2703 certification for safety and reliability in the United States. The vertical configuration saves space, allowing for energy production in limited spaces. The system is well-suited for agricultural lands, urban environments, and areas with restricted land availability. The design uses holes in the module frames to attach to two piles, negating the need for a heavy racking system.

The vertical orientation leads to a grid-serving production curve, avoiding the midday production peak of traditional utility-scale arrays, and provides dual-use benefits such as shading crops and saving irrigation water.

5. Standards and Certifications

5.1 UL 2703 Expands Its Reach

UL 2703, the critical standard addressing solar mounting and racking systems, continued to expand its influence in 2024. Unirac and S-5! announced a strategic partnership in which S-5! extended its UL 2703 certifications for its clamps and brackets, now listed under Unirac‘s certifications – a critical compliance requirement increasingly demanded by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) nationwide. This certification ensures these clamps are fully approved for use with Unirac’s NXT UMOUNT® and SolarMount® systems.

Martin Roofing & Solar‘s patent-pending residential solar mount received UL 2703 certification, becoming the first residential roof solar attachment to be UL 2703 certified that does not penetrate shingles.

5.2 FM 4478 and Florida HVHZ Approvals

As detailed in Section 3.2, S-5! achieved FM 4478 listing and Florida HVHZ approvals for its rail-less mounting solutions, enabling deployment in high-wind and hurricane zones.

6. Market Consolidation and Strategic Moves

6.1 Enstall Acquires Schletter Group

In August 2024, Enstall, the global leader in rooftop solar mounting solutions, announced the acquisition of Schletter Group, a Germany-based provider of solar mounting systems. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Kirchdorf, Germany, Schletter has supplied over 55 GWp of solar installations worldwide, with a product portfolio covering roofs, façades, carports, and ground-mounted solar installations, including trackers and fixed-tilt systems.

The transaction strengthens Enstall‘s footprint in Germany and Central Europe, establishing Enstall as a one-stop-shop global solar mounting powerhouse, with a product portfolio covering both rooftop and ground-mount segments.

6.2 S-5! Continues Innovation-Driven Growth

S-5! continued to solidify its global market position with 50 new patents and third-party certifications, serving increasing demand in the Asia-Pacific, Latin American, and European Union regions. The company‘s focus on certifiably tested, engineered, and affordable lifetime components that maintain roof integrity while allowing easy attachment of rooftop accessories has positioned it as an innovation leader.

7. Future Outlook

The solar PV mounting solutions market is poised for continued growth, with projections indicating the market will reach USD 68.2 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 4.4%. Key themes for 2025 and beyond include:

Continued growth of tracking systems: The tracking segment is anticipated to reach USD 16.8 billion by 2034 as more utility-scale projects adopt these systems to maximize solar exposure and improve output.

AI and automation integration: Hail protection features, intelligent backtracking, and real-time weather adaptation are becoming standard. Automated cleaning robots have become essential for tracker installations as utility-scale segments expand into sandy terrains in Saudi Arabia and parts of India.

Flexible mounting expansion: Validated by real-world extreme weather testing, flexible mounting systems are expected to see wider adoption in agrivoltaics, fishery-solar hybrids, and complex terrain applications.

Non-penetrating and lightweight designs: Ballasted and rail-less systems are gaining market share, particularly for flat roofs and metal roofs, preserving roof integrity while reducing installation time.

Vertical and dual-use applications: Vertical PV systems with UL 2703 certification are opening new markets in agriculture, urban environments, and land-constrained areas.

Supply chain localization: With U.S. tariffs increasing costs for imported solar modules and components, domestic production of mounting systems is becoming more critical. The solar business has grown unstable, making it challenging for developers and investors to forecast expenses and profits.

Standardization and certification: UL 2703, FM 4478, and other certifications are becoming essential market entry requirements, particularly for projects in high-wind zones and for compliance with AHJ requirements.

In a Nutshell

2024 was a transformative year for the solar PV mounting solutions industry: global tracker shipments exceeded 100 GW for the first time, flexible mounting technology proved its resilience against Category 17 typhoons, rail-less solutions achieved critical hurricane-zone certifications, and strategic acquisitions reshaped the competitive landscape. As the industry continues to evolve, mounting solutions are no longer merely structural supports – they are intelligent, integrated systems that actively manage energy yield, weather risk, and grid value.